stories for the ages
Big (1988) and Jack (1996) are two heartwarming tales that use similar forms of aging metamorphoses to demonstrate the awkwardness of puberty and the changes that the humans psyche undergoes during the transition from childhood to adulthood. The protagonists of both films are immature boys encapsulated in the bodies of grown men. The films express a common theme that the presciousness of youth does not rest within physical beauty, but in youthful purity and innocence. Tom Hanks and Robin Williams each deliver superior performances, urging the audience to cherish its youthful memories and to embrace its inner child.
big (1988)
cast:
Josh………….……Tom Hanks
Billy…………...Jared Rushton
Susan……..Elizabeth Perkins
MacMillan……Robert Loggia
Paul…….….….….John Heard
Young Josh….David Moscow
Big was directed by Penny Marshall (A League of Their Own, 1992) and written by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, 2003) and Anne Speilberg, sister of Steven Speilberg. The film was significantly successful. It was nominated for two 1989 Academy Awards, and won three Saturn Awards, an ASCAP Award, and American Comedy Award, a Golden Globe, an LAFCA Award, and a People's Choice Award. Tom Hanks' performance won five of the movie's eight awards, and was clearly a major reason for the film's success, as demonstrated by a less triumphant attempt in 1996 to turn the film to a Broadway musical.
Josh………….……Tom Hanks
Billy…………...Jared Rushton
Susan……..Elizabeth Perkins
MacMillan……Robert Loggia
Paul…….….….….John Heard
Young Josh….David Moscow
Big was directed by Penny Marshall (A League of Their Own, 1992) and written by Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, 2003) and Anne Speilberg, sister of Steven Speilberg. The film was significantly successful. It was nominated for two 1989 Academy Awards, and won three Saturn Awards, an ASCAP Award, and American Comedy Award, a Golden Globe, an LAFCA Award, and a People's Choice Award. Tom Hanks' performance won five of the movie's eight awards, and was clearly a major reason for the film's success, as demonstrated by a less triumphant attempt in 1996 to turn the film to a Broadway musical.
josh's first metamorphosis
At the start of the film, Josh Baskin lives a normal 13-year-old's life in New Jersey with his parents and baby sister. Josh enjoys a seemingly enjoyable young adolescence full of toys, computer games, and baseball cards with his best friend and next-door neighbor, Billy Kopecki.
Josh's problem arises one night at a carnival. He sees a girl he likes waiting in line for one of the more dangerous rides and nervously approaches her, despite his prepubescent stature. She introduces him to Derek, her much older and more mature date. Josh is ultimately rejected by the taller girl and ride operator, and flees in embarrassment, bitter with his current station.
Josh wanders alone for a while, and stumbles upon a strange arcade-style fortune telling game called “Zoltar Speaks,” in which the player attempts to shoot a quarter into the mechanical fortune-teller's mouth in order to have his or her wish granted. Josh accomplishes this feat with little difficulty, as he is proficient with games, toys, and the like. His recent rejection still on his mind, Josh wishes to be "big;" in essence, Josh inadvertently wishes away his childhood. Zoltar gives Josh a card which reads, "your wish is granted" just as Josh discovers that the machine had been unplugged the entire time.
In an eerily Kafkaesque scene, Josh awakens the following morning completely transformed into a fully grown man, and like Gregor Samsa from "The Metamorphosis," makes a futile attempt to continue life as usual. In an effort to reverse the "spell" Josh puts on some of his father's clothes, ducks out of his house, and frantically rides his bike to the carnival site, only to find that it is completely deserted. With nowhere else to go, he returns home, and in his desperate condition, does what any 13-year-old does when faced with an "adult" problem; he tries to ask his mother for help. Needless to say, she does not recognize her son in his new form, and mistaking him for an intruder, expels Josh from his home.
Alienated by the world, Josh realizes that his only hope is to convince his best friend Billy of his identity, and so he sneaks into school to meet with him. At first, Billy's reaction is quite similar to Josh's mother's, but he starts to believe Josh when he recite the song the two boys sang at the opening of the film. The boys realize that Josh can no longer stay in their town because the police are looking for him, so Billy steals some money from his father to help Josh look for the "Zoltar Speaks" machiine in the Big Apple. They use the money to rent a small hotel room in a low-income area where Josh can stay while they look for the mystical Zoltar machine.
As the search for Zoltar continues on, Josh finds that he needs a source of income to pay for his room. He and Billy search the newspaper and find a low-level opening at the MacMillan Toy Company. The following day Josh meets with a MacMillan representative for a job interview with a with a desperately forged resume. The interview, which goes surprisingly well, is interrupted by a strong, authoratative, female executive named Susan Lawrence. At that moment, during an angry rant about her incompetent receptionist, Josh falls in love with her and begins his second metamorphosis.
Josh's problem arises one night at a carnival. He sees a girl he likes waiting in line for one of the more dangerous rides and nervously approaches her, despite his prepubescent stature. She introduces him to Derek, her much older and more mature date. Josh is ultimately rejected by the taller girl and ride operator, and flees in embarrassment, bitter with his current station.
Josh wanders alone for a while, and stumbles upon a strange arcade-style fortune telling game called “Zoltar Speaks,” in which the player attempts to shoot a quarter into the mechanical fortune-teller's mouth in order to have his or her wish granted. Josh accomplishes this feat with little difficulty, as he is proficient with games, toys, and the like. His recent rejection still on his mind, Josh wishes to be "big;" in essence, Josh inadvertently wishes away his childhood. Zoltar gives Josh a card which reads, "your wish is granted" just as Josh discovers that the machine had been unplugged the entire time.
In an eerily Kafkaesque scene, Josh awakens the following morning completely transformed into a fully grown man, and like Gregor Samsa from "The Metamorphosis," makes a futile attempt to continue life as usual. In an effort to reverse the "spell" Josh puts on some of his father's clothes, ducks out of his house, and frantically rides his bike to the carnival site, only to find that it is completely deserted. With nowhere else to go, he returns home, and in his desperate condition, does what any 13-year-old does when faced with an "adult" problem; he tries to ask his mother for help. Needless to say, she does not recognize her son in his new form, and mistaking him for an intruder, expels Josh from his home.
Alienated by the world, Josh realizes that his only hope is to convince his best friend Billy of his identity, and so he sneaks into school to meet with him. At first, Billy's reaction is quite similar to Josh's mother's, but he starts to believe Josh when he recite the song the two boys sang at the opening of the film. The boys realize that Josh can no longer stay in their town because the police are looking for him, so Billy steals some money from his father to help Josh look for the "Zoltar Speaks" machiine in the Big Apple. They use the money to rent a small hotel room in a low-income area where Josh can stay while they look for the mystical Zoltar machine.
As the search for Zoltar continues on, Josh finds that he needs a source of income to pay for his room. He and Billy search the newspaper and find a low-level opening at the MacMillan Toy Company. The following day Josh meets with a MacMillan representative for a job interview with a with a desperately forged resume. The interview, which goes surprisingly well, is interrupted by a strong, authoratative, female executive named Susan Lawrence. At that moment, during an angry rant about her incompetent receptionist, Josh falls in love with her and begins his second metamorphosis.
josh's second metamorphosis
Josh is hired on the spot despite his bogus Social Security number and fabricated resume because of his "four years of experience" working with computers. His youthful energy makes him such an efficient worker that his lazy co-worker actually feels threatened, and asks him to take it down a notch. While rushing through an office, Josh accidentally collides with MacMillan himself, knocking him over. Susan's boyfriend Paul, another executive, rebukes Josh for his stupidity, but MacMillan is impressed by Josh's youthful "hustle."
After Josh establishes some healthy cash flow, he and Billy decide to treat themselves at New York's legendary toy store FAO Schwartz. While playing laser tag with Billy, Josh has a chance encounter with MacMillan, who visits the store every Saturday to exercise his inner child. He and Josh stroll through the store together, and get to talking about various toys. Josh describes personal experiences with the toys and despite his attempts to act "grown-up" in front of his new boss, Josh is still a child inside, and that's what MacMillan likes about him. In what is likely the most memorable scene in the film, Josh and MacMillan play Heart and Soul and Chopsticks on the giant floor keyboard.
Josh’s childlike energy and love for toys score him a promotion to vice-president of product development, along with MacMillan's favor, much to the dismay of Paul. Having more money than he knows what to do with, Josh upgrades to a spacious apartment and fills it with enough toys and games to entertain an army of 6th graders. During a montage in which Josh writes a letter to his family, the audience can catch a clear glimpse of Josh's second metamorphosis. Josh finds that he is able to live comfortably on his own, and although he writes in the letter that he expects to be "released" in a month, his new life as an "adult" gradually begins to take precedence over his attempts to regain his chidhood.
After Josh establishes some healthy cash flow, he and Billy decide to treat themselves at New York's legendary toy store FAO Schwartz. While playing laser tag with Billy, Josh has a chance encounter with MacMillan, who visits the store every Saturday to exercise his inner child. He and Josh stroll through the store together, and get to talking about various toys. Josh describes personal experiences with the toys and despite his attempts to act "grown-up" in front of his new boss, Josh is still a child inside, and that's what MacMillan likes about him. In what is likely the most memorable scene in the film, Josh and MacMillan play Heart and Soul and Chopsticks on the giant floor keyboard.
Josh’s childlike energy and love for toys score him a promotion to vice-president of product development, along with MacMillan's favor, much to the dismay of Paul. Having more money than he knows what to do with, Josh upgrades to a spacious apartment and fills it with enough toys and games to entertain an army of 6th graders. During a montage in which Josh writes a letter to his family, the audience can catch a clear glimpse of Josh's second metamorphosis. Josh finds that he is able to live comfortably on his own, and although he writes in the letter that he expects to be "released" in a month, his new life as an "adult" gradually begins to take precedence over his attempts to regain his chidhood.
josh's final metamorphosis
Josh quickly moves up the corporate ladder, and enjoying the pleasures of adulthood, is tempted to leave behind his true identity. As Josh's excellence in his "career" casts him deeper into the life of a vice-president of development. He starts to make a greater impact on the MacMillan company, and Paul gets progressively more jealous of him and undergoes a sort of degenerative metamorphosis of his own. Josh becomes more adultlike and Paul more childlike. Susan, bored by anything childish, begins to lose interest in Paul, seeing Josh as a breath of fresh air. She approaches him at an office banquet, and is invited over to his apartment for a routine sleepover. Josh gets her to unwind, and they spend the night enjoying pinball machines and trampolines. For the first time in years, Susan feels like a child. They sleep in bunk beds and he gives her a compass ring. Armed with nothing but the shy awkwardness of a 13-year-old, Josh lays the groundwork for his first romantic relationship. Exhilirated by this forgotten feeling of young love, she slowly starts falling for Josh.
As adulthood begins to replace childhood, Josh's romantic love replaces the companionship of his best friend. Though Josh does go out to eat with Billy on his birthday, he leaves hurriedly and takes Susan to a carnival rather than spend the night with Billy. They kiss while dancing, and that night Josh loses his virginity to Susan. This is the point at which the second metamorphosis peaks. Josh begins acting like an adult and even begins wearing a suit to work. Billy finds Zoltar and meets with Josh to give him the great news to find that he has completely sold out. Josh is forced to choose between his two lives. He has "a million reasons to go home and only one reason (Susan) to stay." He tries to tell her the truth but she has to see his final metamorphosis to believe it. Her happiest times in the movie were those when she was with Josh, and in touch with her inner child, yet she declines the unreal opportunity to re-live her youth with Josh.
As adulthood begins to replace childhood, Josh's romantic love replaces the companionship of his best friend. Though Josh does go out to eat with Billy on his birthday, he leaves hurriedly and takes Susan to a carnival rather than spend the night with Billy. They kiss while dancing, and that night Josh loses his virginity to Susan. This is the point at which the second metamorphosis peaks. Josh begins acting like an adult and even begins wearing a suit to work. Billy finds Zoltar and meets with Josh to give him the great news to find that he has completely sold out. Josh is forced to choose between his two lives. He has "a million reasons to go home and only one reason (Susan) to stay." He tries to tell her the truth but she has to see his final metamorphosis to believe it. Her happiest times in the movie were those when she was with Josh, and in touch with her inner child, yet she declines the unreal opportunity to re-live her youth with Josh.
jack (1996)
cast:
Jack…………....Robin Williams
Karen…………….…Diane Lane
Ms. Marquez.…Jennifer Lopez
Mr. Woodruff……….Bill Cosby
Delores…….…..Fran Drescher
Louie………….…Adam Zolotin
Jack is a very touching film, especially for Francis Ford Coppola, acclaimed director of The Godfather (1972) and Apocalypse Now(1979). The film was not particularly successful, but was nominated for five minor awards. Although at first glance one might think these two films to be very much alike because of the similar conditions of the two protagonists, a closer look suggests otherwise. Josh and Jack undergo very different metamorphoses and live in very different settings.
Jack…………....Robin Williams
Karen…………….…Diane Lane
Ms. Marquez.…Jennifer Lopez
Mr. Woodruff……….Bill Cosby
Delores…….…..Fran Drescher
Louie………….…Adam Zolotin
Jack is a very touching film, especially for Francis Ford Coppola, acclaimed director of The Godfather (1972) and Apocalypse Now(1979). The film was not particularly successful, but was nominated for five minor awards. Although at first glance one might think these two films to be very much alike because of the similar conditions of the two protagonists, a closer look suggests otherwise. Josh and Jack undergo very different metamorphoses and live in very different settings.
jack's metamorphosis
The opening of the movie takes place at a Halloween party at which Jack's mother suddenly goes into labor far earlier than expected. She is rushed to the hospital, and shortly after, Jack Powell is born. As a result of a fictional aging disease, Jack’s aging process is accelerated, which explains why he is born 10 weeks premature. The doctor tells Jack's parents that Jack ages four times faster than normal and by age 10, when the story picks up, he has the body of a 40-year-old man. Jack’s parents keep him at home to protect him from ridicule, and rather than going to school, he is tutored at home by Mr. Woodruff, and as a result of his parents' overprotection, Jack becomes very childish.
Jack, imprisoned and alienated, wants nothing more than to live life as a normal boy, and unlike Josh, who wishes to be "big," Jack essentially wishes to be "small." Mr. Woodruff thinks that it might be good for Jack to go out and face the world, and suggests to Jack's parents that he finally start attending school with other children his age. So Jack is enrolled at the local public school, and fitting in proves to be quite difficult.
Jack does his best to fit in, but initially his peers regard him as a "monster." During recess, some of the boys invite Jack to play basketball against the bullies. None of the other boys can compete with Jack, and Louie and his friends find that they can use Jack's stature to their advantage. The boys start to spend more time with Jack, but do not yet accept him. In one scene, Louie and co. convince Jack to buy them a Penthouse magazine.
Jack eventually befriends Louie, and soon after, he is embraced by the other children as well. Jack begins to flourish and his pure optimism in the face of seemingly hopeless adversity touches the entire community, causing a sort of social metamorphosis within each individual. The movie ends with Jack’s valedictorian speech at his high school graduation as an old man.
Jack, imprisoned and alienated, wants nothing more than to live life as a normal boy, and unlike Josh, who wishes to be "big," Jack essentially wishes to be "small." Mr. Woodruff thinks that it might be good for Jack to go out and face the world, and suggests to Jack's parents that he finally start attending school with other children his age. So Jack is enrolled at the local public school, and fitting in proves to be quite difficult.
Jack does his best to fit in, but initially his peers regard him as a "monster." During recess, some of the boys invite Jack to play basketball against the bullies. None of the other boys can compete with Jack, and Louie and his friends find that they can use Jack's stature to their advantage. The boys start to spend more time with Jack, but do not yet accept him. In one scene, Louie and co. convince Jack to buy them a Penthouse magazine.
Jack eventually befriends Louie, and soon after, he is embraced by the other children as well. Jack begins to flourish and his pure optimism in the face of seemingly hopeless adversity touches the entire community, causing a sort of social metamorphosis within each individual. The movie ends with Jack’s valedictorian speech at his high school graduation as an old man.
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