Big 1988

Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune: When Marshall brings Hanks and Perkins together, she discovers a grace and lightness in their relationship that transcends the pinched thematics of the script. Read more

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: Not a major movie but a pleasing one. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: Big, which has been directed by Penny Marshall with verve and impeccable judgment, drops a child's innocence into the corporate rat race as if it were a depth charge. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: This setup isn't exactly what you'd call plausible, but the follow-through is consistent and clever. Read more

Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer: Penny Marshall brings a logic to the premise that is sustained through most of the movie. And where the other movies snickered at the sexual possibilities in the idea, she faces up to them with both candor and taste. Read more

Janet Maslin, New York Times: For any other full-grown actors who try their hands at fidgeting, squirming, throwing water balloons and wolfing down food in a huge variety of comically disgusting ways, this really is the performance to beat. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: As far as the movie's message is considered -- if only grown-ups could be more like kids -- Jerry Lewis did an infinitely better job of plugging it in the 50s. Read more

Kathleen Carroll, New York Daily News: The film succeeds largely because of the splendid performance of Tom Hanks -- who is irresistibly funny as "big" Josh. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The film is funny, sweet, and even a little edgy. It's also emotionally honest and almost never crass. Read more

Gerald Clarke, TIME Magazine: A delightful comedy-fantasy. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Marshall, Hanks, and his co-stars seldom put a foot wrong. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Unspools with enjoyable genuineness and ingenuity. Read more

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: What's great about it is that it shows how wonderfully full of toys the world of adults can be. And though this may fall under the heading of tiny, perhaps even fatuous, revelations, it does send you out of the theater with a lighter step. Read more