Big (1988, PG) is a heartwarming tale of early adolescence meeting adulthood, literally overnight. Josh Baskin (David Moscow) is a typical computer game-playing, baseball card-collecting, and bike-riding 12-year old boy. His best friend and next-door neighbor, Billy Kopeche (Jared Rushton), informs him via walkie-talkie that Cynthia Benson (the girl he has a crush on) doesn’t like “Barry” anymore and is now available. In an attempt to impress her, Josh decides to go on the scary big-kid ride with her at the carnival, only to be embarrassed in front of her by the ride operator who points out that he is obviously too small to ride the ride. When he finds a mysterious red-eyed, wish-granting genie machine called “Zoltar”, he wishes that he was big. A card soon arrives in the slot reading: “Your Wish is Granted.” After reading the card, Josh looks down and realizes the machine isn’t even plugged in!
The next morning, Josh awakens a fully-grown 30-year old man (Tom Hanks) and is unable to convince anyone, other than his best friend Billy, of his true identity. Unfortunately, he also discovers that the carnival has now left town, taking the Zoltar machine with it. Since his mother now assumes that Josh was kidnapped by this strange grown man he has become (and the police are involved), Billy helps Josh escape to New York City to find a place to live while they devise a plan. They soon find out that Josh must wait six weeks for a listing of all the carnivals and arcades in town. Their hope is to find the Zoltar machine again, make a wish, and return Josh to his rightful childhood state. Billy helps Josh get a job in all he really knows–computers, as he assumes this new, but hopefully temporary, identity.
In a twist of events, Josh’s youthful and insightful mind wins the admiration of the big boss (Robert Loggia) at the toy company he ends up working for (MacMillan Toys) and he is quickly promoted from Data Processor to Vice President in charge of Product Development. There, he meets Susan (Elizabeth Perkins), who quickly takes to his charming and adventurous spirit.
In the end, Josh, now 13 years old, has to choose between returning to a life he still has yet to live (filled with dates, graduation ceremonies, and hanging out with teenage friends) and the new life he has successfully established as an adult in love.
Tom Hanks was nominated for an Oscar in this heartwarming film that will have you laughing (and even crying) at some points. Big is a well-acted classic 80’s movie that deserves rediscovery by a new generation. I give this movie 4 out of 5 stars.
Online Resources
This movie is available at amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com;, blockbuster.com, Walmart.com, and Tower Video.com.
