If there is a definition of "art house" movies somewhere then "Gigantic" would be on its list of examples. It's off-beat, somber, quirky funny, has some very intense moments, takes you in directions you didn't expect and doesn't feel any need to tie up every loose end. The acting is great; I especially liked a brief but wonderful scene with Jane Alexander. But this movie is hard to recommend for the big screen. It felt more like a rental, a movie to bring home on a rainy day when you're looking for something more intimate and less predictable than the latest action thriller or romantic comedy.

I put the Sunday afternoon stipulation on Gigantic because I feel that an evening viewing would have left me a little flat. However, a Sunday afternoon gives you enough time to stroll around, consider the homeless man to red knight (fisher king) comparison and the surprising ease of a young single man adopting a child when Madonna can't breeze through the process like he did, then move on. I did appreciate the "we're all messed up in our own ways, but love and trust can see us through" message brought about through the innocence of a baby, but that thought only lasted until sundown :)

Gigantic revolves around a childhood wish, 28 year-old Dano has to adopt a baby from China and the impact this wish has on his childish and spur-of-the-moment speaking first girlfriend (Zooey). It is full of bland and monotone dialogue and odd ball characters that, at times, barely fit into the story. As well as confusing randomness that hints more towards an artsy audience and creates holes in the story that never seem to fill up. Homeless Zach Galifianakis, who at the end seems like an imaginary foe, attacks Paul Dano and disappears until a later unexpected time (Why?). I didnt want to skip this movie because ive always been a fan of Zooey Deschanel. Stand-out performance by Goodman, but the movie lacked wholeness. One said "it takes mushrooms to find mushrooms", maybe we needed something in order to find the movie. Decent ending. (C-)