Siskel & Ebert: Two thumbs Up
Grade: B
Former ISU figure skating rating: 5/6

This was shown as a modified version of the original on ABC on July 20, 2025.

When it comes to knowing how life can be, sometimes you don't want to go too fast, but in some ways, you would want to go and feel some maturity quickly. However, in this movie, when it comes to having to get into the time when you are all grown up, sometimes you have to embrace it and take advantage of what life is ahead, but keep in mind the simplicity of being a child. It comes to a good surprise that one likes to be big. And they would like to see how it is in the life as an adult. But yes, for children sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. Because if you do have your innocence, it's not going to work out in today's world. In fact, children are getting less and less innocent at early ages. This movie does show that when it comes to children being exposed to something that is perhaps for 15-year-olds and up, it's going to be a time when they are going to start to act like adults and be less and less innocent and playful too. One can consider that this movie is a preview of what can foretell to what's going on right now. Of course, this is made in 1988 and seeing how Tom Hanks has embraced his inner child, he has shown that sometimes as the actor being a 30-year-old having the mind of a 13-year-old-it is imperative to note that being in the world of adulthood but your mind is not fully formed yet it is going to be tough. But people at early ages will have to adapt to how things are in today's world where children now are starting to be more and more like adults at earlier ages. In some cases, they can be like 9 years old and are acting as if they are 17. I remember that for an 11-year-old that girl has admitted on The Maury Show that she's pregnant. That is not true but luckily she is not, and it is illegal for children to have sex even at equal ages equally and to have pregnancy at around 13. 16 makes sense, but still, that is too early. But do note the time when Josh went to work REEAAAALLLY happy, and asked for coffee for the first time, and removed a poster-he has matured and clearly, he got hormones; and my, what little innuendos he did not know!

Really, I was at the edge of my seat sometimes on what's going to happen with Josh and his friend, but it did go well at the very end, of course. There were lots of challenges, and though this was the modified version that you would see on ABC today, it is certain that at points one is going to assume on how things went. Of course, in being that age, but having a 13-year-old mind, there are things that are taboo. Josh needed to learn some etiquette in such business parties and also everyday times when to assimilate well with society, but yes, everyone is a work in progress through life, and it is clear that even with a few gaffes, though- one will have to learn along the way and not try to do the same mistake again to embarrass the other and him or herself, but it is all about maturity. It is nice that Josh was able to learn quickly about how life is in adulthood. But like I would think of "Jumanji" with Robin Williams and even the book called "The Dog Days of Arthur Cane" with the similar but less appealing television special "Dog Trouble!", and also "Freaky Friday" where the roles of mother and daughter are reversed, we do have to think of how we could take advantage of what we've learned in the future, or what we have learned in the past when we live and see the experiences of what we have been through as our childhood or teen-hood years were, and apply it to our advantage if there is such thing as time travel but have the same soul inside the body.

Remember about the adage "be careful what you wish for", as yes, sometimes you may like what you have, or it can be a disaster when the wish comes true. Focus on reality and if you have an attainable and an reasonable wish, it can be rewarding - it can be like a goal or a vision that will come true, likely. Well, what's going to happen to Josh if he does get back to being a young adult and meets the lady named Susan? That can be a cliffhanger! Well, I didn't really spoil the ending, but one will assume that if there is a "Big 2", maybe it can happen that Josh and Susan will meet again. At least they are going to remember each other- but we'll have to wonder how the job is since Josh walked out at the end. Let's see what happens by our imagination.

😏

At least the movie got nominees, and did win a Golden Globe. Tom Hanks was the actor winning it. I can say some places were cheesy, but, I did like it all the way and I did happen to get in tune with all of the movie. It is quite a thing to see when if you are trying to see what direction you are in life and to see that Josh has been able to see his direction. Keep in mind that this is a movie, and it is fiction, so don't feel humbled that a child gets successful so quickly and not be named a whiz kid or is like Maculay Culkin when he acted the titular character, Richie Rich. Despite having to come from a childhood and jump 20 years or 30 years to become an executive, there are people who can go at their own pace, but they have of course-if they can put their minds to it, become successful. They do have their routes, but they will soon see that everybody has their ambitions and goals and visions and have stories to tell. I would say that this is a movie for 12-13 year olds and up, to understand how life can be for them, and it can be a way to have them know that many things are for them. Any younger, they will not understand.
The movie is a keeper if you want to see the legacy of the 1980s. I'd be glad to revisit this one again. And yes, remember, if you wish upon a star, if you find a four-leaf clover, or even find the machine Zoltar like in the movie, make a reasonable wish. Be careful, but if it is realistic and attainable without any flaws that you know of, go for it. "Big" was worthwhile for me, and I hope everyone else can like it too. I did not understand it when it was out nor did I have interest in watching since I was 5. But since I'm older when I first watched it (TODAY!) I can say to myself, "My, I may not have understood this! It was good that I waited until I was mature so I can see it as funnier at this age then when I was young." I'm glad I waited, and I liked the movie a lot.