Review of Colossal (2017) by Gary B — 09 May 2017

IT'S NOT OFTEN that a movie like Colossal comes along to hit us with a ton of bricks. A film that's bizarre with its premise has an interesting character study, and an odd plot yet when necessary feels heroic. Another bizarre thing is the film's main star Anne Hathaway, who in her acting career can be seen as a princess - notably in the two Princess Diaries films, a high-functioning alcoholic is not a role we normally see her in. And yet, she pulls it off magnetically.

On the one hand there's Hathaway's Gloria in her drunken state struggling with her new life after she's been kicked out by her ex-boyfriend Tim (Dan Stevens), on the other there's a giant monster that attacks Seoul and that's when the film shines. A superhero film in disguise, with a bizarre premise that succeeds in all its oddities, all its core materials and the character study is incredible. Thanks to writer-director Nacho Vigalondo - the 40 year-old Mexican director who after his English language debut Open Windows, shows real fire in his heart.

He handles his characters well by giving them imperfections, it's the two mains that show off their flaws to a degree; firstly there's Gloria who can't give up her drinking - secondly there's Jason Sudiekis' Oscar who's her closest friend. At one point these two are close, then the next they become enemies - thanks to their stoic performances they shine the brightest light. Vigalondo handles this with excellent results by also giving well-needed pathos to their story - by timely flashbacks that show the childhood of these two characters and how the monster got to them. He cleverly matches outrageous comedy with sci-fi action, and it is bliss.

In short, Colossal is Pacific Rim meets Reel Steel and it's an absolute joy on both levels. Though, much like life (which is the message) it has it's imperfections, the patchy second act is mostly a fault, especially in a moment when Tim tries to reconnect with Gloria which sadly outruns it's welcome thankfully this can be brushed over by the film's joyous moments notably the Pacific Rim-esque Kaiju meets Jaeger battle.

Though the film falls apart in the second act, this odd superhero film in disguise is the more obscure movie to hit our theatres in this 21st century world but it feels necessary. And with Vigalondo's clever screenplay and a spectacular lead performance Colossal is more necessary than just a film we come by every once-in-a-while. It's memorable, so memorable in fact that it'll stay with you forever.

VERDICT: Hathaway is magnetic, in this raucously funny action-sci-fi that's genially put together and is oddly, yet perfectly heroic.