Gigantic (2008)

38% of critics liked it
(80 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(96,109 ratings)

There Will Be Blood's Paul Dano stars as Brian, an unhappy mattress salesman whose infatuation with Happy (Zooey Deschanel), one of his attractive customers, temporarily pushes aside his obsession with adopting a Chinese baby in this unconventional romantic comedy from director Matt Aselton. John… More There Will Be Blood's Paul Dano stars as Brian, an unhappy mattress salesman whose infatuation with Happy (Zooey Deschanel), one of his attractive customers, temporarily pushes aside his obsession with adopting a Chinese baby in this unconventional romantic comedy from director Matt Aselton. John Goodman, Ed Asner, and Jane Alexander co-star in the Killer Films production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Matt Aselton
Written By: Adam Nagata, Matt Aselton
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 3, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Aug 11, 2009
Studio: First Independent Pictures

Critic Reviews

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The characters are richly layered and well acted. John Goodman is a standout as Deschanel's dad, a rich blowhard with a sweet candy center.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
Gigantic plays like a Sundance movie with half the nouns removed; fetchingly cryptic for a while, it's ultimately just obscure.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
One of those indies that seems to be trying to top the quirkiness quotient of Juno.
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News
Aselton's reason for making this movie is easy to discern -- he wants to be a filmmaker. But coming up with a reason for watching this movie is more of a challenge.
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
First-time feature director Matt Aselton, who co-wrote the darkly funny, well-observed script with Adam Nagata, has crafted a disarming tale that's one of the better independent films in recent memory.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Anyone can go off and just cynically make a bad movie, but to make a picture as inert, incompetent and emotionally fraudulent as Gigantic takes sincere faith that one is, in fact, making something really, really good.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
Occasionally rises above its limitations. The operative word is "occasionally."
Sarah Sluis, Film Journal International
Romance and comedy are deftly balanced in an observation of the beautiful but strange
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
Credit Dano and Deschanel for generating sufficient chemistry to make the movie worthwhile despite the oft-distracting Kabuki dances dominating the backdrop.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Gigantic is best appreciated for its kooky cast chemistry. But the story like the lure of those plump orthopedic mattresses in stock, is essentially a painless snooze.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
More like 'bloated.'
, Daily Telegraph
This determinedly nonsensical American indie feels like it was assembled in an off-world quirk factory.
Angie Errigo, Empire Magazine
Not quite this year's hip little indie romantic comedy that could, as it clearly aspires to be, but smart-ish and drily funny while overly littered with twitches and tweaks.
Tom Huddlestone, Time Out
'Gigantic' is a film that succeeds by wearing the viewer down, as an infuriatingly coy, self-conscious first act gives way to a sweet and affecting climax.
Ali Catterall, Film4
The kind of mumbling, lank-haired, achingly self-conscious indie rom-com that gives mumbling, lank-haired, achingly self-conscious indie rom-coms a bad name.
Kevin Maher, Times [UK]
It's slyly misogynistic, dramatically inert, and wastes an intriguing boorish cameo from John Goodman.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
This film is entirely empty: empty of substance, devoid of plausible characters, and without anything like a satisfying style.
Limara Salt, Little White Lies
Here the characters drive everything - they're quirky without being annoying, funny without being clownish and odd but realistic. As funny and interesting as it is, however, the film raises more question than it answers.
Lara Martin, Digital Spy
It's very hard not to get sucked in to the charm of this movie. Dano and Deschanel play their parts to perfection, exuding just the right amount of awkwardness and insecurity to bring the story to life.
Tim Evans, Sky Movies
Everything that happens slots neatly into the art house template - wacky leads, wackier supporting players, coy alt-rock soundtrack - but director Matt Aselton doesn't know when to stop.

Read all 24 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Manu G

When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises Good movie. This movie was really mellow and slow but it was kinda good. Paul Dano is evolving as a very good actor and I can't help but to like Zooey's weird funny acting roles including this one.… More
When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises Good movie. This movie was really mellow and slow but it was kinda good. Paul Dano is evolving as a very good actor and I can't help but to like Zooey's weird funny acting roles including this one. Good story and easy to follow. Do we ever get what we want? Brian sells mattresses in a warehouse store. His father and older brothers have material success; he wants a child. He's applied to adopt a baby from China. A man who appears homeless seems to be stalking Brian with violent intent. He meets Happy, the daughter of a rich, quirky customer. She doesn't stick to anything, but she and Brian hit it off, except for her vomiting when she learns about his adoption idea. He wants her to meet his family, and there's a call about the adoption. What will Happy do?
Alice S

A movie that seems to want to make a political or humanistic statement but over-quirks itself instead. Brian is quirkily shy; Happy is quirkily fucked-up (she even says so herself, and that always pisses me off in movies). Obviously, they should have sex. I dig the actors, and… More
A movie that seems to want to make a political or humanistic statement but over-quirks itself instead. Brian is quirkily shy; Happy is quirkily fucked-up (she even says so herself, and that always pisses me off in movies). Obviously, they should have sex. I dig the actors, and they're quite darling and sympathetic in this movie, but what exactly is this movie about? Fatherhood? Adoption? Government bureaucracy? Unconventional upbringings? There's much talk on IMDb about the "controversial" hobo attacker played by Zach Galifianakis (to great heebie jeebie extent, might I add), saying he's supposed to be a manifestation of Brian's fear of growing up, committing to a child perhaps, but as with the supernatural inconsistencies in Black Swan, other people seeing Brian's physical cuts and bruises = NO SENSE! Brian actually removing a bullet from his leg, implying that someone actually shot him = NO SENSE! If it's all in his head, he's crazy and shouldn't be adopting a child. If it's visible to other people because he's self-inflicting these wounds, he's crazy and shouldn't be adopting a child. Furthermore, the scary music that underscores all the attacks also tip this movie from the sweet indie drama genre into the thriller mind-fuck genre, yet there is no Shyamalan twist in the end at all.
Nicki M

Interesting but flawed. It's a little too slow and doesn't make sense in some places, (for example, we never find out who the guy is who is following Brian around, trying to attack him). Harriet is a little too offbeat to be sympathetic, and WTF with the Chinese baby… More
Interesting but flawed. It's a little too slow and doesn't make sense in some places, (for example, we never find out who the guy is who is following Brian around, trying to attack him). Harriet is a little too offbeat to be sympathetic, and WTF with the Chinese baby thing. I like quirky little stories, generally, and this is definitely one of them, but I have seen this type of thing done much better. The good cast save it somewhat.
Red L

A plain movie about a normal guy who wants to adopt a Chinese baby. Then he meets a quirky girl. Most of the professional movie raters do not rate it too highly, but it is an interesting study of a young couple and their strange parents.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, Brian Avers, John Goodman, Edward Asner, Jane Alexander, Zach Galifianakis, Frank Harts, Clarke Peters, Aryn Cole DIRECTED BY: Matt Aselton Brian, a mattress store worker who wants to adopt a Chinese baby. Brian meets Happy, a hot, potty-mouthed girl… More
Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, Brian Avers, John Goodman, Edward Asner, Jane Alexander, Zach Galifianakis, Frank Harts, Clarke Peters, Aryn Cole DIRECTED BY: Matt Aselton Brian, a mattress store worker who wants to adopt a Chinese baby. Brian meets Happy, a hot, potty-mouthed girl who he falls head over heels for. Together, they negotiate their increasing intimacy, and the appearances of their many eccentric relatives, as Brian awaits the call from the adoption agency. I absolutely love indie films they are my favorite. You never know what kind of offbeat insane kind of story you will get. This is another offbeat comedy starring some of my favorite actors, Paul Dano and Zooey Deschanel from first time director Matt Aselton. I think he did a good job his first time around. The movie is cute and funny. But there are also some scenes that just don't make any sense. Mainly Zach Galifianakis character. He does some odd things in the film and the reasons really don't get explained. But I kinda think that's the point. Some things in life just don't make sense. Maybe that is what his character represented maybe not. Anyways, it is a really odd film that I loved. Hope others like it too.
Conner R

It's a film almost based entirely on metaphors, which can be both thought provoking and frustrating. I admire the movie for venturing into an untapped part of film. The performances are great from most, even though I felt that Paul Dano didn't really bring anything… More
It's a film almost based entirely on metaphors, which can be both thought provoking and frustrating. I admire the movie for venturing into an untapped part of film. The performances are great from most, even though I felt that Paul Dano didn't really bring anything interesting to his particular role. I felt like the movie tried to go somewhere, but never did because it was too focused on being original and bizarre.
Daniel J D

Mmm, Zooey Deschanel. That's all I really need to say about this one. But don't watch this one till you've run out of other Zooey movies to watch.
Coxxie M

wow this movie is quirky!! Paul dano plays a guy who occasionally gets attacked by homeless comedians and whose lifelong dream is to adopt a chinese baby! (CRAZY!!! LOL) Zooey Deschanel is a woman who falls asleep on matresses even when shes not tired, in a store owned by a sad… More
wow this movie is quirky!! Paul dano plays a guy who occasionally gets attacked by homeless comedians and whose lifelong dream is to adopt a chinese baby! (CRAZY!!! LOL) Zooey Deschanel is a woman who falls asleep on matresses even when shes not tired, in a store owned by a sad complete stranger who likes to work with the lights off! (HAHA ZANY!) Zooey asks Paul 5 minutes after they meet, while sharing a cocktail, if he wants to have sex. (SUPER-QUIRKY!!) they totally do it and thats when he gets hooked on Happy! oh didnt i mention her name was Happy? silly right?first she was Summer in 500 days of summer, now shes Happy in Gigantic. THESE CRAZY METAPHORS ARE KILLIN ME!! lol! i predict her next flick will be about a girl named Shitty (clever right) who falls in love with a sex-offender. ill call it FEELING SHITTY!!! get it?
Lorenzo v

"When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises" Mattress salesman Brian Weathersby (Dano) finds his plan to adopt a Chinese baby augmented by the arrival of a young woman, Happy (Deschanel), who comes into his workplaces, falls… More
"When it comes to family and relationships, there are no small surprises" Mattress salesman Brian Weathersby (Dano) finds his plan to adopt a Chinese baby augmented by the arrival of a young woman, Happy (Deschanel), who comes into his workplaces, falls asleep on one of the beds, and starts to affect his life upon waking up. <center>REVIEW</center> Gigantic is the story of mattress salesman Brian (Paul Dano). One day, a man named Al (John Goodman) comes into his store looking for a bed. The beds are very expensive, so Al sends his daughter, Harriet, A.K.A. Happy (Zooey Deschanel) to inspect the bed and the price. Brian and Happy fall in love. That's the plot of the indie Gigantic. Dano and Deschanel are both fantastic here, and the film has an interesting and fun spark to it. In fact, the whole cast is good here, except, dare I say, the very funny Zach Galifianakis in a wordless role as a homeless man who keeps mugging Brian. Besides Galifianakis, the other big complaint I have with the film is the film features a subplot involving Brian adopting a Chinese baby. This plot feels way too scripted. Gigantic isn't an amazing work of art, or even a great film, but I had a good time with it. It's a film with plenty of flaws to spare, but that said, it's enjoyable enough. I'm recommending this film, but with reservations. This is a good indie without the great indie feel, but a certainly good indie feel. This is one that is worth checking out to the indie film fan in all of us.
Lewis C

First, Zooey Deschanel has an outstanding pair of legs. Out-standing. Second, whenever Paul Dano is in a movie, I can't help but expect that movie to be a version of There Will be Blood, set in some new time period. Third, one of the characters in Gigantic seemed to have no… More
First, Zooey Deschanel has an outstanding pair of legs. Out-standing. Second, whenever Paul Dano is in a movie, I can't help but expect that movie to be a version of There Will be Blood, set in some new time period. Third, one of the characters in Gigantic seemed to have no other purpose in the movie other than to make me miss Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles terribly. Now, on with my review. This is a movie that will leave you with questions. When a movie is good enough that you enjoy thinking about it further, then some lingering questions can be welcome. Gigantic doesn't quite pull that off. The things that it leaves unexplained are....well, maybe they had best be seen. You'll know exactly what I'm talking about if you choose to watch it. And you will be either pissed off, intrigued, or a bit bemused by them. I think I fit into the latter category. This definitely isn't a comedy. Maybe it's best described as an odd family drama. The cast is very good, I just don't know if the surrounding framework of the movie was as well thought out as it could have been. If you're at all intrested in the trailer or description of Gigantic, see it. It's not a bad movie. But, not everyone will be satisfied after it's over. I at least give it points for offering up several moments that I didn't expect. Because of that fact and Zooey, I came away from the film with a small amount of approval, despite the loose ends and vagueries.
Leigh R

So adorable that I nearly burst. Slow but fun and worth the ride.
Rico Z

Gigantic was a movie with gigantic potential. As it turns out, it results in a gigantic, fragmented, albeit beautiful mess of a movie. As a first feature, I wasn't anticipating much. But this movie lacked focus. It had a lot of things going for it: Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel,… More
Gigantic was a movie with gigantic potential. As it turns out, it results in a gigantic, fragmented, albeit beautiful mess of a movie. As a first feature, I wasn't anticipating much. But this movie lacked focus. It had a lot of things going for it: Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner and John Goodman. Sounds great, right? Stay with me... A young mattress salesman is in the process of adopting a Chinese baby. Sounds intriguing, right? Okay, stick around... Zooey Deschanel plays her zany self again as Dano's would-be lover. Brilliant, I love Zooey. This is cool, right? Wrong. First-time writer/director Matt Aselton delivers a valiant effort but (like many first features) the scribes ideas are all thrown out on the page at once and they never really gel into a cohesive work. Throw in some wacky goofs, Ed Asner's brilliantly kooky performance, some genuinely touching moments of dialogue and acting by a great cast and you would've had an excellent. That's why I say this movie was fragmented. There were slivers of genius, but it never came together. A recurring gag with a homeless person was confusing for most of the audience even though I felt it was more open to interpretation and I came to my own conclusions about the significance of this plot device. All in all, I have to say that I liked the movie and I will reluctantly recommend it. It definitely wasn't a horrible movie by any stretch of the imagination. It was just missing focus and a clear vision. Everyone involved in the film was excellent and the acting was top-notch. It's just that their characters and their respective struggles came off as a bit in a vignette as opposed to being part of a fully-realized feature film.
Walter M

In "Gigantic," Brian(Paul Dano), a 28-year old unmarried man, is going through something of a rut, as his request to adopt a Chinese baby is perpetually on hold.(Say what you will about bureaucracies but occasionally they get something right.) His disposition does not… More
In "Gigantic," Brian(Paul Dano), a 28-year old unmarried man, is going through something of a rut, as his request to adopt a Chinese baby is perpetually on hold.(Say what you will about bureaucracies but occasionally they get something right.) His disposition does not improve after getting beaten up by a homeless man(Zach Galifianakis). At least, he sells Al Lolly(John Goodman) a $14,000 mattress. When his daughter Harriet(Zooey Deschanel) comes to complete the transaction, she falls asleep. Awake, she persuades Brian to drive her and her dad to his back doctor when he delivers the mattress and propositions Brian in the waiting room... "Gigantic" is a truly misguided attempt at offbeat comedy. It just goes to show you that even with the right cast, all may be still be lost. The fault lies mostly with the uninspired direction as scenes go on too long and a lack of coherence permeates the entire affair. Even the details are wrong. The showroom is much too ramshackled for the well-heeled clientele they hope to attract. Still, there is some indication that this might have looked somewhat appetizing on the page, since there are some clever ideas and dialogue that shine through even this mess.
Sol C

The film was so so. It started off really good and then it drifted. It needed a rewrite. The film was a little unfocused. I thought the film was well cast. Dano is good in the lead role. Deschanel is ok, but much better in 500 Days of Summer than here. John Goodman steals every scene… More
The film was so so. It started off really good and then it drifted. It needed a rewrite. The film was a little unfocused. I thought the film was well cast. Dano is good in the lead role. Deschanel is ok, but much better in 500 Days of Summer than here. John Goodman steals every scene he is in. I find it funny that the 2 actors from The Hangover, are in this film.
Sarah P

I enjoyed it. The cast really made this work for me and although overall it's not a great movie, there are some really funny lines.
Marcus W

Even though I have a crush on Ms Deschanel, and she wears little or no clothing at times in this I still can't give it more stars (professional or what!). This is an absolute indie romantic comedy but it's too indie for it's own good. Words like whimsical, meandering,… More
Even though I have a crush on Ms Deschanel, and she wears little or no clothing at times in this I still can't give it more stars (professional or what!). This is an absolute indie romantic comedy but it's too indie for it's own good. Words like whimsical, meandering, wet and limp-wristed describe it well. If you really want to see a vibrant and original romantic comedy (that also happens to star Zooey), see (500) Days Of Summer.
Leanna E

Offbeat indie romance - this won't appeal to everyone, but I truly enjoyed it. The movie, which centers around a mattress salesman and his quest to adopt a Chinese baby, is slow-moving in parts, but laugh out loud funny in others. John Goodman offers comic relief here, while… More
Offbeat indie romance - this won't appeal to everyone, but I truly enjoyed it. The movie, which centers around a mattress salesman and his quest to adopt a Chinese baby, is slow-moving in parts, but laugh out loud funny in others. John Goodman offers comic relief here, while strong performances by Dano and Deschanel make this a lot more enjoyable than it might have been in less experienced hands. Deschanel, is, after all, the queen of kook. I found the characters to be very sweet and endearing, although there are some dark undertones to proceedings. Well worth a watch for fans of quirky indie.
Sunil J

The movie starts out terribly and then about 17 minutes in becomes charming for about 45 minutes and then derails but the ending is very good. I was too disappointed to recommend it but it definitely wasn't all bad.
Nikki M

I had more questions at the end then I did in the beginning, it didn't really make sense to me.....
Brett W

Standard "indie" fare. Reserved male meets eccentric and carefree female (played by none other than the chic-princess herself). The stars align and every unusual character in New York city gathers together to work out their very white issues. One day I'm going to think… More
Standard "indie" fare. Reserved male meets eccentric and carefree female (played by none other than the chic-princess herself). The stars align and every unusual character in New York city gathers together to work out their very white issues. One day I'm going to think about writing a scholarly article that deals with the illusion of the "urban hippie", "transcendent of social constraints", female type characters seen in films like this. Of course I won't do it, but I believe this is some sort of Freudian, man-centered fantasy in which he doesn't actually have to go out of his way to woo a woman...and when he does have her, she doesn't end up being psychotic. Trivia: Did you know that Yellow is the official color of "indie movies".