Big Fish

It was my choice for movie night, so I picked a movie I remember loving that my wife has not seen, like I do pretty much every time. She definitely did not see the appeal the same way I do, but I stand by my belief that this is a solid movie.

When I first saw this in my twenties, I enjoyed Ewan McGregor’s portrayal and all of the fun Tim Burton mini stories layered throughout the film. Now that I’m in my forties and have a kid, I was more interested in the main dynamic between the son and his father and the discussion of a person’s legacy. It’s a very well made film either way.

The cast and acting are all top notch. More importantly, Tim Burton creates beautiful visuals for each miniature story that each have their own style. His directing turns a movie that would otherwise be completely forgettable into a unique and memorable film.

The biggest issue with the film is the material it draws from. This movie is based on a book (which I have not read), and I assume that format allows the main story line to be given the depth it needs for a reader to get truly invested. When edited for length, it is impossible to fit a large variety of beautiful short stories on top of a rich, full primary story line, so the primary father/son relationship leaves a lot of meat on the bone. Regardless, Burton does a wonderful job of fitting as much as possible into the limited run time.

The cast, acting, and directing are all great, but the unconventional story could be more engaging. I think my score is about the same as it was on first viewing, even though the reasons have changed over time.