day 79 - Gigantic

OK film fans Sunday night is upon us and I've got to get up at the crack of dawn instead of at a leisurely pace. That means I'm off to bed soon so let's hit it and quit it.

Gigantic is an indie flick that should be the equivalent of a slow pitch in my strike zone. It has all the elements I usually find interesting in indie films. Quirky and original story, check. Quirky and lovable lead actress, check. Interesting casting including a mainstream actor making a surprisingly nice departure from their norm, check. Cool soundtrack, check. Ultimately though, they just don't add up to more than an average film.

Brian (Paul Dano) is a quiet, ordinary guy who works as a bed salesman. He has loving parents and supportive brothers but he cannot relate to them, partially because he appears to have been a "surprise" child when his folks thought their child raising days were behind them. When they get together he often seems distant and preoccupied. After selling a bed to outspoken Al (John Goodman), Brian meets his daughter Happy (Zooey Deschanel) when she comes to make arrangements for its delivery. Happy works with her father and her self-centered sister in the family business. She talks sparingly with her estranged mother, who is living in Florida and is rather disconnected from her former family. Happy is the type of girl who's a little desperate for attention but also a little skittish and immature.

Brian and Happy begin a physical relationship almost as soon as they meet, but the emotional side seems like a long shot given Happy's general instability and Brian's preoccupation with adopting a Chinese baby. Yeah, you read that right. The film's quirky point is that a 28 year old single, white male is attempting to adopt a baby from another country. Needless to say this is a bit more than Happy is ready for. Then there are his periodic fights with a homeless man (Zack Galifianakis) who may be real or may just be a representation of his inner demons and his struggle to overcome them.

This film is trying a little too hard. Even though everyone in the film gives solid performances (especially Ed Asner and Jane Alexander has Brian's parents) everything feels disjointed. The pace is uneven and not all of the scenes seem to work or actually go anywhere. And don't even get me going on the swimming pool scene between the new couple, it just seemed pointless.

Unfortunately this is a case of an indie film that's too preoccupied with being indie. It's too bad though because there was a good film in there, someone just forgot to focus on making a real story first.