Tim Burton Movie Big Fish Still Available Free on Streaming

In conversations about Tim Burton’s greatest movies, Beetlejuice always comes up near the top. So do his Batman movies, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Even The Nightmare Before Christmas enters the discussion, despite being directed by Henry Selick rather than Tim Burton. Viewers almost never mention the film released in 2003, which is currently free to stream on Tubi, even though it stands as some of his finest work.

Big Fish follows Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) as he tries to reconnect with his semi-estranged father, Edward Bloom (Albert Finney), who is on his deathbed. The film relies on flashbacks showing the grand adventures of the younger Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor). He claims he met an 11-foot-tall giant and a pair of conjoined twin singers, and that he caught a seven-foot-long catfish. The son has heard these stories before and remains deeply skeptical. He wants to know his real father before time runs out.

The film is charming largely because of the natural charisma of the two actors playing Edward Bloom. They are completely convincing as the same character, even though they look different and use their charm in distinct ways.

As the younger Edward Bloom, Ewan McGregor plays a kind, loquacious, and confident dreamer who never seems cocky. Women find him attractive and men want to be his friend. The year 2003 marked peak McGregor, falling between the final two Star Wars prequels and right after Moulin Rouge!, making him ideal for the role.

Albert Finney brings the charm of a favorite uncle, an older man who loves spinning yarns and occasionally says inappropriate things. The two approaches capture a captivating character at very different stages of life, from the peak with McGregor to the final chapter with Finney.

The movie maintains a strong pace, making time spent with both versions of Edward Bloom enjoyable. The flashback stories are fun and fanciful, touching on a bank robbery and time spent in a circus. The soundtrack features Elvis Presley with “All Shook Up,” Buddy Holly with “Everyday,” Canned Heat with “Let’s Work Together,” and more. The style feels like Tim Burton by way of James Gunn.

Big Fish doesn’t feel like a Tim Burton movie

It is easy to forget that Big Fish is a Tim Burton movie, which explains why it often gets overlooked in his filmography. The film contains Burton’s signature whimsy, but it avoids his usual German Expressionist aesthetic. The color palette is bright. The lead character is not an outcast locked in a dark mansion, but a handsome and popular man whom Burton would typically cast as a villain. The movie also arrived at a difficult point in Burton’s career, wedged between the remakes Planet of the Apes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, right before his decade working on Disney projects.

Regardless of why Big Fish gets neglected, the film deserves more attention and offers a joyful viewing experience. It features a life-affirming ending that reframes the entire story. Big Fish is streaming now on Tubi.

Source: Polygon