If you're telling a story about giants, you'd be wise to think big. But Steven Spielberg does just the opposite with his fe-fi-fo-bummer "The BFG." The only thing large about it is the disappointment that reigns as Spielberg bungles scene after scene in an obvious attempt to strip the edge off Roald Dahl's source novel about uncouth behemoths treating children like hors d'oeuvres.
Furthering the frustration is knowing the script was penned by the late Melissa Mathison, the writer of Spielberg's most beloved movie, "E.T." But much has changed in the 34 years since their last collaboration, and what worked then largely fails now. Most shocking is their resorting to flatulence and blows to the groin in a desperate ploy to win favor with the kiddies. Instead of challenging them, "BFG" panders by talking down; assuming small bodies contain small minds.
It also wastes a fine motion-capture performance by Oscar-winner Mark Rylance, playing the title character, a "big friendly giant" who unlike his brethren prefers to dine on veggies instead of children. His secret life is exposed late one night when he's spotted by an insomniac orphan (blah, androgynous newcomer Ruby Barnhill) who spots him outside her London window. To keep her quiet, he snatches her and brings her back to his dilapidated lair. Weird, often creepy bonding ensues. But the nine other giants in the neighborhood aren't willing to play so nice, especially the nastiest of them all, Fleshlumpeater (voiced by Jemaine Clement).
Yet there's never any sense of true danger for Barnhill's Sophie, as she finds inventive ways to elude becoming a giant's dinner. Those scenes, along with BFG's clever uses of his cape to disguise himself in public, are the film's high points, abetted by the flawless blend of animation and live action shot imaginatively by Spielberg regular Janusz Kaminski. Where "BFG" goes wrong is in the choice to be both juvenile and talky, especially the latter. All BFG and Sophie do is talk, talk, talk. Which would be fine if, one, they had something interesting to say, and two, if BFG wasn't spouting so many annoying malaprops like fizzwiggler, frobscottle and, of course, wizzpopping, which means farting. They're cute at first, but a little goes a long way.
The cast, which also includes Penelope Wilton as Queen Elizabeth and Rebecca Hall and Rafe Spall as her majesty's aides, is first rate, as are the performances, except for Barnhill, who never really registers. But then Spielberg never really gives her a chance, burying her character in a discombobulated maze of special effects. The film's plodding pace and meandering plot also stringently work against her.
As the film lurches toward the Royal Air Force's climactic showdown with the nasty giants, you can't help asking yourself: Where's the magic? Where's the wonder? Where's the charm? All pertinent questions that Spielberg woefully fails to answer. You want whimsy, but all he delivers is flimsy.
"The BFG"
(PG for action/peril, some scary moments and brief rude humor) Cast includes Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Rafe Spall and Rebecca Hall.
Grade: C-
