Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) (2002)
-
82% of critics liked it
(45 reviews) -
88% of users liked it
(970 ratings)
John Flansburgh and John Linnell are a pair of musicians who met when they were fellow junior-high misfits in the town of Lincoln, MA. Sharing a fondness for off-center pop music and absurdist humor, the pair decided to form a band, and later moved to Brooklyn, NY, in search of their big break.… More John Flansburgh and John Linnell are a pair of musicians who met when they were fellow junior-high misfits in the town of Lincoln, MA. Sharing a fondness for off-center pop music and absurdist humor, the pair decided to form a band, and later moved to Brooklyn, NY, in search of their big break. Adopting a rather unusual two-man lineup (guitar and accordion accompanied by a drum machine), the duo began performing as They Might Be Giants, and their shows were part concert, part performance art, and part edgy comedy. Slowly but surely, They Might Be Giants became one of the biggest bands on the alternative rock scene, and while they never threatened to break into the upper reaches of the Billboard charts, they've managed to develop a loyal cult following, and after nearly 20 years together, are still recording and performing their one-of-a-kind songs on their own terms. Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns) is a documentary which looks at the long and sometimes strange history of They Might Be Giants, featuring extensive interviews with Flansburgh and Linnell; thoughts from fellow musicians Frank Black and Syd Straw; endorsements from noted authors Dave Eggers, Gina Arnold, and Michael Azerrad; and readings of the group's lyrics from actors (and fans) Harry Shearer, Janeane Garofalo, Michael McKean, and Annette O'Toole. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- AJ Schnack
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Mar 10, 2002 Wide
- On DVD
- Nov 18, 2003
- Studio
- Cowboy Pictures
Critic Reviews
-
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Prepare yourself for nights wandering around the house singing unshakable tunes.
-
Michael Booth, Denver Post
The flabby, fawning film Gigantic comes across as 102 minutes of rib-nudging by one of the duo's annoyingly self-satisfied connoisseurs.
-
Mark Brown, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Predictably, Flansburgh and Linnell are the saving grace of the movie, both in their interview segments (refreshingly witty, although the editing could have been tighter) and particularly in the live footage.
-
Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times
Tries to be as irreverent and bouncy as a song by its subject, and succeeds for the most part.
-
James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle
A modest amusement.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
