GIGANTIC

THE WORKS 

RELEASED 19 June 2009

Zooey Deschannel plays a ditzy, emotionally strange girl called  Harriet ‘Happy’ Lolly who comes into Brian Weathersby’s (Paul Dano) exclusive mattress shop, where she falls asleep on a model and buys it for her fussy and brusque father (played wonderfully by John Goodman). Paul is in the process of adopting a Chinese baby, and ‘Happy’ falls for his quiet, honest charms. 

This small rom-com defies exact description, but it has a arty charm that may not be to everyone’s taste. If you’re a fan of Zooey Deschannel, then she’s never been cuter. If you’re a fan of John Goodman, he’s better than he’s been since ‘The Big Lebowski. Other oddities include a violent homeless dude, a mysterious sniper taking pot shots, and Brian’s parents are a bit strange too.

I enjoyed ‘Gigantic’, but it’s no masterpiece, and don’t expect anything mainstream either. Some funny moments though, and it did engage me.

THREE OUT OF FIVE