I’m pretty sure I have never seen a kai-black-rom-com-ju, and even then I cannot imagine one being as wonderful as the fourth film from the wild mind of Nacho Vigalondo. (His 2007 Timecrimes is a trippy time-travel gem.) The film unexpectedly stars Anne Hathaway, way off her beaten path, as Gloria, an unemployed writer/thirtysomething slacker back living in her hometown after being kicked out of her boyfriend’s apartment. Soon, she reconnects with childhood friend, Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), who runs his late father’s bar. But Gloria’s real problem is that her actions seem to influence the destruction wrought by a giant monster terrorizing Seoul, South Korea.
After an initial reaction of “Huh?,” the bewildered filmgoer will enjoy settling into a movie unlike any other currently available to watch. Hathaway breathes likability into what might have been an edgier Parker Posey role in the halcyon days of ’90s independent cinema. Vigalondo even manages not to trip while wrapping up his tricky narrative gamble. Colossal is cool and quirky—two qualities difficult enough to pull off alone, much less when combined.
I feel I did not mention the giant monster enough. Guys: Colossal features a giant monster threatening Seoul!
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