Director: Nach Vigalondo

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson, Dan Stevens

Synopsis: Gloria is an out-of-work party girl forced to leave her life in NY and move back home. When reports surface that a giant creature is destroying Seoul, she gradually comes to the realization that she is somehow connected to this phenomenon (source: IMDb).

Rating: R

Colossal isn’t for everybody. Though early on (with the exception of a bizarre but brief prologue) it starts down the path to becoming your typical rom-com, Writer-Director Nacho Vigalondo ultimately leads his film down a road much less traveled. It’s an occasionally bumpy road but one which offers sights the likes you’ve never seen. For some, the destination won’t be worth the while. But for those who like to stray from the beaten path, Colossal is worth the trip.

Anne Hathaway is a powerhouse performer who doesn’t rely on extravagant makeup or costuming to disappear into a role. Here, she simply becomes Gloria, a depressed thirty-something-year-old party girl who is dumped by her well put together boyfriend (Dan Stevens) after a seemingly endless string of drunken nights out and moves back to her costal hometown in order to figure her life out.

Enter SNL son Jason Sudeikis. He is largely in his wheelhouse here as Oscar, the obligatory nice guy from Gloria’s past who offers her a job at his bar to help her get back on her feet (a setup that would feel right at home in a Nicholas Sparks novel).  He’s witty and charming and as the film goes on, it gets tough to figure him out. It’s about this point where the film’s attention shifts from comedy to heavy drama.

While all of this is going on of course, there’s the Godzilla-like monster that’s terrorizing Seoul, South Korea. It’s enough on its own to leave Gloria speechless. The revelation, then, that the creature seems to mimic her own movements changes everything for her.

Some of the conflicts and character motivations that arise and change as a result of this realization feel more natural than others. In the spirit of not giving too much away, I will say that I was not completely sold on how everything unfolded in the third act. Despite this, I still walked out of Colossal feeling it was time well spent. Its quirky spin and strong performances make it a singular experience.

Grade: B+

Have you seen Colossal? If so, what did you think? If not, are you excited to watch it? Let us know in the comments below!