TIFF 2018: Our Review of ‘Giant Little Ones’

Posted in Festival Coverage, Movies, Theatrical, TIFF '18 by - September 05, 2018
TIFF 2018: Our Review of ‘Giant Little Ones’

Frank conversations about sex don’t come easily to most people. The push for inclusivity and understanding relating to gender-identity politics have only made the discussion more complex. Director Keith Behrman tackles these issues head-on in Giant Little Ones, a coming-of-age story about a teenager’s sexual awakening.

Franky (Josh Wiggins) and Ballas (Darren Mann) are a couple teenagers who are on top of the world. They’re handsome, popular, and the girls love them. Ballas is a stud – boasting of getting it on six times in one night – while Franky plans to lose his virginity after his birthday party. Things don’t go as planned and when the night is over Franky still gets some action, just not from who he expected. After word of his sexual encounter gets out, Franky becomes an outcast and must learn to accept being someone others can’t place in a box.

Sexuality is a sensitive topic and this movie’s approach feels rigid and clumsy. At its worst, it comes across as polemical. Too often, things grind to a halt as characters stand around expressing their beliefs. This wouldn’t be as bad if the film’s characters felt like people. But, short of Kyle MacLachlan’s compassionate father Ray, they don’t. Instead, characters are empty vessels who exist to preach and advance the plot.

 Behrman’s movie has the same ingredients as an indie-darling: weighty themes, a catchy score, and a decent cast. But these elements never quite gel and Giant Little Ones never reaches its potential.

  • Release Date: 9/09/2018
This post was written by
Victor Stiff is a Toronto-based freelance writer and pop culture curator. Victor currently contributes insights, criticisms, and reviews to several online publications where he has extended coverage to the Toronto International Film Festival, Hot Docs, Toronto After Dark, Toronto ComiCon, and Fan Expo Canada. Victor has a soft spot in his heart for Tim Burton movies and his two poorly behaved beagles (but not in that order).
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