Rent Giant Little Ones (2018)

Authentic coming-of-age - Giant Little Ones review by TB

I very nearly scored this film a four as it was really authentic in the way it presents teenage sexuality and the fluid and curious way in which it unfolds. I certainly found myself nodding on a few occasions as if to say ‘yep, been there and felt like that’.

The film has a great set of characters, all with their own tale to tell and who add depth to a well rounded movie that I’m sure many people will relate to.

I’ve seen many coming-of-age films and even though I’ve seen a number that are better than this; this is by no means a film to overlook. Give it a watch! 

A good, nuanced drama which doesn't get bogged down in one particular direction - Giant Little Ones review by Timmy B

The coming of age, exploration of sexuality drama is one which has been told in many different ways. Because of this, it can be hard to find new & compelling ways to add to it without it just being a re-hash of many previous films. But Giant Little Ones is admirable in its decision to go in unexpected directions, managing to avoid the multiple clichés which the genre has.

Frankie & Ballas are high-school royalty, popular & best friends since they were young. They spend all day together & tell each other everything. At Frankie's birthday party, after many drinks & when everyone has gone home, the two best friends end up experimenting with each other sexually, before Ballas runs away, scared of what the situation may mean. He then turns on Frankie, as does much of his friend group. Frankie then has to come to terms with this, whilst dealing with conflict in his own family as well.

The most admirable thing this film does is to emphatically not go down the normal clichéd route of two guys being intimate & then the whole film being about them not only coming to terms with their sexuality, but then the fairytale ending. Yes, the experience is the catalyst for the change of circumstances within their lives, but the film is just as interested in the other difficulties & challenges Frankie faces.

There are some solid performances & this also clearly was a passion project/meant a great deal to Maria Bello, who not only stars but also executively produces it, the events mirroring some of her own life experiences. Sadly, despite all this, alongside the choice to deal with some extremely traumatic incidents which weren't often mentioned in this type of film genre, it comes across as extremely soapy in many ways. Despite it's 15 certificate, if you took out the swearing, it often is like watching an episode of Hollyoaks or Coronation Street.

But there is plenty to admire about the narrative, plus an extremely powerful scene between Frankie & his recently out father, which the story thankfully again avoids becoming a Kumbaya moment. And the fact that the film is not just about the same-sex moment between the two friends, but many of the difficulties of growing up & finding out who you are, is to it's credit.

A solid & at times powerful story of self-discovery

Awesome - Giant Little Ones review by WH

Best movie we have seen so far this year. A much better approach- and for more authentic one-to teenage sexuality. As well as having a ' message' this movie was also highly entertaining. It didn't flag- and we were interested to see how the plot developed out over the whole 90 minutes. It reminded me of that song ' Love the One You're With' - because that's the message of the film. Sex is basically irrelevant- its the person you're with that really counts. So relevant today- and a message that is rarely conveyed on film . Its a movie that doesn't categorise- as the vast majority do.

We had to turn the subtitles on to get the dialogue.

And the relevance of the title? Anyone else worked it out?

I think it means Little White Lies- there are little ones- and there are giant ones- but very rarely-sometimes the ' little' ones are GIANT in their true implication.

Recommended.