It just didn't work

Rating: 3/10 (8 May 2009)

After I managed to sit through the movie, the first thought that came to my mind was that this is exactly the sort of a movie that will be commended by the critics. Well, I wasn't wrong.
This, however, doesn't help the fact that I personally found the "Big Fish" to be a complete, utter and utmost waste of time, and was relieved to see quite a few negative reviews here. Otherwise, I would have thought it's just me. I had to watch the movie to the end, simply because my mother wanted us to - surprisingly, she quite liked it! I see now that watching it to the end was for the better, as the final scenes being somewhat relieving is about the only reason why anyone would bother to give the "Fish" anything higher than a one.
The plot is a simple one.
***SPOILER ALERT*** There is a son (Will), who tries to find out more about what kind of a person his father (Ed) really was/is while the latter is on his deathbed. Almost everything Will knows about Ed comes from the stories his father was telling him over and over again, since he was a little boy, and Will doubted any of these stories were true. So, Will just recites those to us, in the meantime questioning his father about the real story of his life. When, after another stroke, Ed becomes unable to respond to those inquiries, Will feels it would also be reasonable to approach other people asking questions about his father. Doing so, he finds out not all stories are lies, and finally gets to respect and love his father. Moreover, he suddenly inherits his father's knack for rambling and gives Ed a comfortable death by telling a story of an end that Ed always wished for. So, when Ed turns into the Big Fish and gets a new beginning, we are supposed to cry (and so, I suspect, the most sentimental members of audience actually did).
*** SPOILER END*** Now, I'm not generally considered an insensible person, but the way the movie deals with the things that concern all humans seems just ridiculous. If the "Big Fish" were just a fairytale for teenagers I would not have any problems. But the movie is for grown ups, and all the fanciful fragments claiming to be perceived as tenderly romantic look contrived, unnatural and, above all, immature. To mention just one, the part where Ed serves Calloway for who knows how long, sweating his guts out for no pay, but only to learn ONE thing (mind you, not knowing if the thing would be true) about the girl he fell in love, per month of service. I couldn't help comparing the situation with Jacob serving Laban for years, but hello - the guy at least knew he would marry the girl. Not to mention, we all know how the things turned out.
Ewan McGregor is anything but convincing as young Ed. As the movie progresses one gets to realize that wide open bright blue eyes cannot compensate for every weakness this piece has to offer. Ewan McGregor is not alone here - acting is not among the strengths of the "Big Fish" (if you can find those at all, for that matter). Even Jessica Lange looks static and kind of numb as Ed's wife. Steve Buscemi could have improved the overall sad impression had he had a bigger role. But thank God he was there - the other reason why I gave it three stars. Let me go no further and stop right here. If you've read this review to the end, then please spend your time doing or watching something else - even smaller fish will be better.