Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Freaky Friday, Vice Versa, Like Father Like Son, The Hot Chick, and 17 Again; Hollywood has seen more than its fair share of body-swapping movies. However, none had quite the same impact as Big.

First of all, it's actually a good movie. Yeah -- the story of a 12-year-old kid, who wishes on a carnival game (Zoltar Speaks, to be exact) and wakes up somewhere in his mid-30s, actually turned out to be a good movie. However, it's not just that the movie is good and that Penny Marshall directed it. It's that Big is the movie that launched Tom Hanks into superstardom. Thanks guys.

It's also one of the main reasons that Hanks should really try his hand at comedy again. Sure, he's done the Toy Story movies, The Ladykillers, and there are even a few laughs in Forest Gump. However, Hanks is really funny and charming here. Also, he managed to turn a comedy cliché into a multi-Oscar nominee.

The Picture

Big a fun movie. However, this release isn't a lot of fun, as far as Blu-ray standards go. It seems to have the same disease that many other 80s releases suffer from, and just comes off as a bit dated. Considering that Josh plays with toys for a living, you'd expect some of the colors to pop a little more. Also, it's a little grainy. That's not to say that it's not fun to watch. However, it's no more fun than the countless other times we've watched it.

The Sound

With the exception of a few quick clips from Huey Lewis and Billy Idol, only Howard Shore's very 80s score will fill those surrounds on a regular basis. The part with the giant piano sounds kind of fun too, but overall, there's not a whole lot of meat for the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack to hang onto. Like most comedies, this one is mainly about the dialogue, and it delivers that pretty well.

The Extras

Big offers nothing new for Blu-ray buyers. However, fans will appreciate that the release offers both the theatrical cut of the film, as well as an extended version, which adds an 20 extra minutes of deleted scenes. That same crowd will also enjoy one of the release's many featurettes. However, the "Carnival Party Newswrap" is just a completely bizarre one-and-a-half-minute clip, which is actually just a promo reel from the film's original launch party.

Final Thoughts

When going into a body-swap comedy, you usually know what you're in for. Add in Hanks, though, and you get an instant classic. Despite the disappointing Blu-ray, this flick is still worthy of a spot in your collection. However, if you already have the DVD version, an upgrade isn't really necessary.

Where to Buy:

• Big on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard
• Director: Penny Marshall
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Stereo (English, French), Mono (Spanish, Portuguese)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Portuguese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: May 12, 2009
• Run Time: 104 minutes (Theatrical Version)
• List Price: $34.98
• Extras:
• Theatrical Version & Extended Cut
• Big Brainstorming Audio Documentary by Writers/Co-Producers Gary Ross & Anne Spielberg
• 8 Deleted Scenes, Including 5 with Intros by Director Penny Marshall
• Big Beginnings
• Chemistry of a Classic
• The Work of Play
• AMC Backstory: Big
• Carnival Party Newswrap