Tom Hanks' 1988 movieBigwas one of the most popular movies of that year, with an enduring legacy, so much so that its premise has inspired various other movies since then.Not only was it financially and critically successful, butBigalso began a major career shift for Tom Hanks. While Hanks had starred in several comedies beforeBig, his role as Josh Baskin earned him his first Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win, pointing him toward becoming the household name that he is today.
Big’s use of a child who wishes to be “big” and wakes up the next morning as an adult, leading to chaos, is one that has been emulated in several movies since the film’s 1988 release. Now, one of the movies that has taken inspiration from the belovedTom Hanks classic,Little, istrending on Netflix, and its connection toBigis very clear. However,whileLittledraws clear inspiration fromBig, the movie includes one important twist that separates it from its predecessor.
Little (2019) Reverses The Premise Of Tom Hanks' 1988 Movie Big
Jordan Sanders Becomes A Kid Again
Littlereverses the premise ofBigby making an adult change into a childinstead of a child changing into an adult. The movie follows Jordan Sanders, played by Regina Hall, a strict and unkind businessperson who is rude to her employees. When she is mean to a child, the child wishes that Jordan would become a kid too, and the next morning Jordan wakes up as a 13-year-old. This creates a very similar setup toBigbut with opposite results.
Working onLittle, Marsai Martin became the youngest Hollywood executive producer ever at the age of 14.
As a child, Jordan is forced to return to school and relive the embarrassing realities of life as a young teenager. Along the way, she makes new friends and realizes that her behavior has been terrible. As inBig, Jordan is ultimately able to find the origin of her transformation, in this case, the child who made the wish, and asks to be changed back to her adult body. Upon her return to adulthood, Jordan is a new woman and makes attempts to be nicer to those around her.
Why Little’s Reviews Are So Mixed Compared To Big’s Near-Universal Praise
Little Was Seen As More Formulaic Than Big
Upon its release,Bigwas met with overwhelmingly positive reviews and currently holds a 98% critical approval rating onRotten Tomatoes. The movie was seen as funny and heartfelt, and Tom Hanks was its breakout star. Critics praised Hanks' performance as lovably childlike and innocent. Even 36 years later, audiences still loveBig, because it remains above the films it inspired, andit reminds viewers of the simple happiness of Josh Baskin’s kindhearted wonder.
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However, now that multiple movies with similar premises have come out over the past 36 years, including13 Going on 30, 17 Again,and many more, the concept ofLittleisn’t as novel. While some audiences would admit to the movie being enjoyable, many said thatLittlewas too formulaic.Little’s cast is talented and the overall premise is still fun, but the movie unfortunately does not live up to the legacy that Tom Hanks created inBig.
Big
Cast
The 1980s classic Big follows the story of Josh Baskin, a 12-year-old boy whose wish to grow up is granted after being turned away from a carnival ride for his short height. The movie is directed by Penny Marshall, with Tom Hanks in the lead role.
Little
A woman is transformed into her younger self at a point in her life when the pressures of adulthood become too much to bear. Production on the film began in June 2018 and ran until August of that year.Littlewas an idea that stemmed fromBlack-ishstar Marsai Martin, who at 14 is the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history.
