Big (1988)

Extremely charming comedy starring Tom Hanks as Josh, a 13-year-old boy who – because of some vague magic that takes place with a fairground fortune/telling machine – wakes up in an adult’s body. His mother won’t believe it’s really him, so he’s forced to join the adult world, working for a toy company. He also begins a romance – his first – with the cynical Susan (Elizabeth Perkins), who is transformed by his good nature and innocence.

It’s an extremely sophisticated film that understands how children and adults think. Hanks is absolutely perfect in the role. His body language and facial expressions uncannily reflect those of a child, so you totally believe in the unlikely scenario. There’s a real poignancy to it, too, because the characters are so well-written. You can feel Josh’s conflict when he wants to return to his childhood world just as he’s laying down roots and finding his way among adults. 

Big explores the idea of the “child” in all of us and asks how we can grow up without losing sight of that. There’s a huge emotional intelligence in the writing and direction, and Hanks – sometimes taken for granted – should be applauded for conveying it so effectively.

I enjoyed the film when I was young, but I got so much more out of it as an adult.