“Big” is a family fantasy film that definitely has some major flaws but thanks to its star it is a blast to watch so I really can’t hold it back. It’s memorable and features some funny moments and isn’t that where it counts?

In “Big”, a boy named Josh (David Moscow) makes a wish at a mystical fairground machine to be ‘big’ and the next morning wakes up as man (Tom Hanks “Toy Story”, “Saving Private Ryan”). Now he has to convince his friend to help him get back to being a boy but meanwhile he is living in the adult world.

Tom Hanks really steals the show here and without him the film probably wouldn’t work. Mr. Hanks puts so much passion and energy in here that we simply fall in love with his performance. He is a very funny guide with a wide ranged ability; he’s very much like Robin Williams (“Aladdin”). I also quite liked Elizabeth Perkins (“The Flintstones”) as Susan, who Josh develops a relationship with. Another fine bit of casting is John Heard (“Home Alone”) as Josh’s bitter work rival. I thought Jon Lovitz (“Rat Race”) was very dull here but I rarely find him funny anyway.

“Big” has a couple of really blundering moments in its last ten minutes or so but throughout the film it is enjoyable as we see some funny parts such as the scene involving “The French Connection” on tv and although the film isn’t hysterical (it’s just nice and light entertainment) it works because Tom Hanks really carries the film; without him the film would be just another average family pic. Sometimes I can look beyond a film’s flaws when I see such a great level of energy radiating from the cast and this is one of those films.