Drama, USA, Rated PG-13.
Director: Tim Burton. 
Writer: John August. 
Cast: Ewan McGreggor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup.

Big Fish is the story of an eccentric man named Ed Bloom who was always known by family and friends as a fabulous storyteller.  Ed constantly loved to tell fable-like tales about his past to anyone within earshot, but he especially took pride when it came to entertaining his young son Will.  He would tuck Will in with bedtime stories of sizable proportions about giants, witches, and yes, even a big fish.  As a child, Will easily took these exaggerations as truth, but he began to angrily question their validity as an adult.  In fact, feeling that his father was nothing more than a liar, Will began to despise Ed so much that he moved away vowing never to speak to him again.  And Will stubbornly stuck to his guns, until one day when his mother called to let him know that his father was dying.

So the pragmatic Will, played by Billy Crudup (Almost Famous), comes back home with his wife, Josephine, in a last-ditch effort to reconcile with his dad.  But the father-son reunion is short-lived after Will realizes that even on his deathbed Ed Bloom, Albert Finney (Erin Brockovich), is still nothing more than a blowhard.  Though disappointed that he can’t captivate his son, Ed doesn’t miss an opportunity to entertain and gladly talks to Josephine who has kindly provided an open ear.  Ed tells her the story of a lifetime, his lifetime.  It’s the greatest story ever.  It’s the story about the trials and tribulations he went through to win over the love of his life, his wife, Sandra.  And through a series of flashbacks, Big Fish begins to switch from present to past, back to a time when Ed Bloom was a young and foolhardy fellow.  Ewan McGreggor (Moulin Rouge) takes on the ever-smiling and optimistic role of Young Ed, and the bulk of the movie continues by walking along with him on his fantastic journeys. 

Big Fish seems to have all of the right elements.  Director Tim Burton (Ed Wood) creates an artistic and creative world for his viewing audience that is packed with tons of visuals and imaginative characters.  He assembled a talented cast, including: Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonham Carter, Robert Guillaume, Steve Buscemi, and Danny DeVito.  And he has a magical story with the potential to standout for years to come.  But somehow the film lacks something, causing it not to gel.  The stories don’t quite click together, the characters don’t have enough depth, and its humor isn’t fleshed out.  Now Big Fish is by no means a bad movie.  In fact, it’s probably one of Burton’s better attempts in recent years.  But with so much going for it, Big Fish seemed like it could have been humongous.  And, maybe, that’s why it felt small instead. 

Bottom line. Should you see Big Fish?  No.

Review by Chad Goldich.