It is, by definition, impossible to describe the indescribable. It is an insurmountable task I face head on with a healthy dose of courage and skepticism. It is a task larger than the arm-span of your grandfathers biggest fish story. Aptly, this is all caused by the film Colossal, a tale of a woman who finds out she controls a giant monster halfway across the world. Now imagine that that is the simplest part to describe of this film.

Let me start by saying, I felt lied to. The entire campaign for this film is misdirection in the worst way. Take a look at the trailer and then head back here. Ok, welcome back. The trailer would have you believe this is film about a girl who maybe parties a bit too hard, takes one too many drinks, but is otherwise a lovable scamp. I want to set this straight for you. This film is about alcoholics, domestic abuse, and depression. Not underneath a metaphor or an analogy, on its surface, in your face. The trailer put me in the frame of mind of comedy where hilarity would ensue, with maybe a bit of giant monster hijinks, but instead I found myself feeling depressed in a profound way. That is the real truth of this film. Given the wrong idea, it leaves you drained. But you have to lead with your biggest foot forward. 

Anymore than that would be giving this film away, and I don’t want to do that to you. I just don’t want you to go in expecting to have this fun adventure, because the reality wasn’t a pleasant surprise. Nonetheless, Anne Hathaway was spectacular in this role. No surprise she took the role, it plays to her strengths and in turn strengthens her. She is funny, sexy, immature, hurt, lazy, and cunning. Jason Sudeikis gets to play a more complicated character than I am used to seeing from him and he does so just as brilliantly. Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, we get to see him flex a much needed creative muscle on the big screen that doesn’t come often enough. He found a way to tell a story that doesn’t minimize hardship in the wake of comedy while also never turning to dark humor as a segway for the hardship to exist. Outlandish as the premise may sound, he made it work, switching from lighthearted to dark the same way you might find in real life. You would be well advised to check out Nacho’s other work. Although they don’t feel as streamlined as this, they have their own interesting stories to tell.

Colossal is more than a monster movie. Its powerful and real. A focused view of inner struggle and the source of true strength. That should have been the real campaign. But how do you bottle inner strength? Easier, they decided to draw on its more explosive aspect because honestly, who would see a film about alcoholism masked as a giant monster movie that is so much more than that alone? I still would have. And you should too.