'Big' starring Tom Hanks - movie review

'starring Tom Hanks' - reason enough for most of us hollywood lovers to check out this movie, I assume. But take my word, if you will that is, that is just one of the highlights of the movie. Check out this movie, for a ride back to childhood, for an insight into growing up and for finding out where you lost the kid in you while running along this path of getting all grown up and fitting into the society of manners and behaving yourself.

The plot of the movie is ironically the reverse of this all, its about a kid who wishes at a wishing machine (which works, something that only happens in movies sadly) to grow up into a man, and lo and behold, finds himself inside an all grown up body (Tom Hanks) the next morning. The movie goes on to portray how the kid inside Tom Hanks wins everyone around him by somethings we have been so taught to shed in the process of growing up, our innocence and honesty. He finds himself a job in a Toy manufacturing company, and off course soon rises to the top by knowing and telling which toy would work and which wouldn't, off course being a kid himself, it was easier for him. But more importantly (my opinion actually), it also is because he still played with those toys. That's how it is actually, being successful is that easy, if you work at something you are passionate about (off course we all know that, or do we really?). His room is full of the toys, he keeps on playing with them all the time, his mind on fun all the time. If only fun was not that underestimated in the real world, the world would be an infinitely happy place (oops, digression! but its fun :P).

Scenes which made this movie memorable for me -
The party scene where Tom Hanks arrives in a ridiculous tuxedo (compared to the standard black worn by the clones around) behaves all foolishly, like the kid he actually is and still leaves with the beautiful chick.
Then the scene where they just jump on the trampoline. How about that for a perfect date? We all have known cliches like the 'candlelight dinner' or the 'walk along the beach' perfect dates. But (my own experience as well), the perfect time is always when you are able to have fun with the girl, when you are just yourself.
And another where the beautiful chick explains what is special about Tom Hanks in just these simple words - 'He is so grown up' - this according to me is the best scene. The paradox of it all - the paradox of life according to me. Weren't we so grown up at thirteen (which is the age of the kid actually)? We did what we loved, never compromised, never said something just because its right!

And yes, now on to Tom Hanks, this here is his second best performance, according to me, right after Forrest Gump. With him, its difficult to rank his roles in all his movies, but still, this manages to just squeeze into the second spot. The way he gets his 13 year old behaviour on target everytime, the expressions, the joy he portrays while playing and the ease with which he displays discomfort (funny statement, ease and discomfort) of not being able to adjust with being a grown up. Full marks to Tom Hanks, but then, that is a given with him.

I give this a rating of 7 out of 10