A monster movie by way of an indie comedy that unexpectedly transforms into something more serious and horrific, Colossal stars Anne Hathaway as Gloria, an out-of-work writer turned reckless party girl and black-out drunk who is kicked out of her boyfriend's Manhattan apartment and returns to her dreary hometown, where she continues drinking her nights away at a sleepy bar owned by a childhood friend (Jason Sudeikis). During one of her blackouts, a towering Godzilla-like creature suddenly appears in Seoul, South Korea, and she discovers that she has a unique connection to this creature on the other side of the world. What initially seems to be a cosmic comic lark turns dark in a very human way without losing its sense of humor in this strange film by director Nacho Vigalondo. Hathaway plays against her image as the likable but unreliable Gloria, as does Sudeikis, whose easygoing manner and generosity covers up a damaged soul. The giant monster scenes owe more to the original Japanese films than the largely humorless American adaptations, and Vigalondo revels in the mix of delight and horror as towering creatures stride between (and at times knock down) skyscrapers and also tromp crowds of panicked humans, sometimes by accident, sometimes not. Vigalondo uses this genre mash-up to explore alcoholism, bullying, control, and male rage in a film that is funny and serious at the same time. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Colossal
Universal, 110 min., R, DVD: $22.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $29.98, Aug. 1 Volume 32, Issue 5
Colossal
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