--- title: "Big: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/big/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/big" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Big (1988): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 10 reviews: 9 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like Big a good deal, and the praise gathers almost entirely around Tom Hanks. Review after review dwells on how he plays a thirteen-year-old in a grown man’s body without tipping into caricature, the slapstick balanced against fear and vulnerability. Penny Marshall’s direction earns the next share of credit, chiefly for keeping the comedy small and unforced and for steering the awkward business of a boy in an adult romance clear of crassness. Several reviews rank it above the other late-80s body-swap comedies, and the giant piano scene is named more than once. The reservations are mild and cluster around the script rather than the performance. Time Out finds the plot predictable and the ending saccharine, and a few warm notices stop short of enthusiasm. The one real dissent is The New Yorker, where Pauline Kael sees a formula fantasy, tactfully made but tepid, selling childhood back to adults. Nobody else shares her coolness; the spread is otherwise narrow. ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film is the best of the late-80s body-swap comedies and showcases Tom Hanks' physical acting as a boy in an adult body. Penny Marshall directs with subtlety, delivering joyful set pieces like the giant piano scene while avoiding crassness in its trickier elements. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/big-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 1988. The critic calls 'Big' the best of the body-swap comedies, praising it as funny, warm, sophisticated, and imaginative throughout. Direction by Penny Marshall is highlighted for its verve and judgment, along with Tom Hanks' charming performance and a satisfying ending that avoids confusing childlike with childish. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-03-ca-4758-story.html) ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 June 2007. The critic hails Marshall’s film as gold and a consummate ’80s film about kid-dom and growing old too fast, singling out Hanks’ sanguine performance and the inventive handling of the boy-as-man premise, especially the iconic piano scene. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/big/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). Nicely directed by Penny Marshall with Tom Hanks marvellously child-like as the boy who wakes up big; succeeds by showing how adult life can become boring while celebrating the joy of toys and play. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11312303/Big-review.html) ## Time Out — GA Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The film is genuinely funny thanks to Tom Hanks' engaging performance and a script that avoids gross innuendo, with Josh's innocent perspective revitalising those around him. It is somewhat predictable with a saccharine ending. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/big) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). Best of the late-80s body-swap films thanks to Tom Hanks's career-making turn as the boy in a man's body. Still charming and funny. [Read the review](http://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/82589/big) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Duane Byrge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 1988. The critic calls the film good and very funny, praising Tom Hanks' wonderfully slapstick and kid-like performance as the standout element. Penny Marshall is commended for keeping the comedy natural, unforced and likeably small without hammering themes. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/big-review-1988-movie-899374/) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1987. The film unspools with enjoyable genuineness and ingenuity as a 13-year-old is transformed into an adult body. The characters enjoy life away from responsibility in a way that reminds viewers why adults get so serious. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1987/film/reviews/big-1200427661/) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 1988. The critic describes 'Big' as a formula fantasy movie directed tactfully and gently by Penny Marshall, with Tom Hanks delivering a predictable but inoffensive little-boy act. It is seen as nostalgic for childhood and suburbia, ultimately selling the slick wonders of immaturity in a wholesome but tepid way. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1988/06/27/sunshine) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2001. The critic praises the film's immense charm and Tom Hanks' layered performance as a boy in a man's body, noting his ability to blend vulnerability, fear, and humor without exaggeration. The review highlights the story's exploration of lost innocence and the superiority of childhood freedom over corporate success. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/big-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/big.md