‘BFG’ is a wonderful little story of giants and kids

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It’s time for another superhero movie. Super director Steven Spielberg is teaming for the very first time with super studio Walt Disney. This is a BFD! Together, they bring us the story of a Big Freakin’ Giant called “BFG” (Big Friendly Giant), who comes to aid of an orphaned little girl. Or, just maybe it’s the other way around?

The movie is based on the book by Roald Dahl (“Mathida,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and was written in 1982, same year as Spielberg released “E.T.” The screenplay is written by Melissa Mathison (“E.T.”), who sadly passed away shortly before this film completed production. She used Dahl’s dialogue verbatim as much as possible.

Dahl’s stories are not silly fairy tales. He presents dark stories of vulnerable children in scary situations. They become empowered to overcome their overwhelming obstacles. Spielberg adds, “Being able to be scary and redemptive at the same time, and teach a lesson – an enduring lesson, to everyone  – is a wonderful thing for Dahl to have done.”

Oscar winner Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies”), stars as the 24-foot tall giant. Unlike the typical single dimensional movie beasts, Rylance carries so many nuances in his facial expressions that he seems simultaneously dejected, compassionate and gentle. Using motion-capture technology, his lanky, graying physical features are further exaggerated.

Ten-year old Sophie (Ruby Barnhill, film debut) is a curious, spirited orphan with an over-active imagination. She suspects the Boogieman comes out around 3 a.m. (not midnight). Witnessing the BFG slipping throughout London in his task of distributing good dreams to kids around town, she is captured and taken to Giant Country, but is not intimidated by a freak six times larger than she.

As it turns out, the BFG and Sophie are both isolated beings, due to circumstances not of their own making. They have reason to fear each other but soon discover they can become friends who understand each other, maybe even better than they understand themselves. The lesson is that maybe these are the best kind of friends to have.

Mathison says, “It is a very sweet relationship, but they actually start off a little combative, suspicious of one another and have their own little power struggles. But from the moment they have a plan and move forward as partners, there’s just so much love between them. It’s a wonderful little love story.”

The BFG speaks Gobblefunk, a form of tortured English; fun for kids to translate the quaff frobscottle he speaks. He doesn’t like watching the telebunker box or listening to the radio squeeker. He eats snozzcumbers and drinks whizpoppers, which generate a severe expanse of passing gas. The late comedian George Carlin once said passing gas is very important to kids. If not, they wouldn’t find so many ways to make the sound.

As it turns out, the BFG is the runt in Giant Country where his tormenters include Childchewer, Gizzardgulper and Fleshlumpeater. They range in size from 39 feet to 52 feet in size, while rating 10 on the “uglyometer.” It’s worth noting that Dahl, who was 6-feet, 6-inches tall, may have written some of himself into the story. Sophie and the BFG decide to convince the Queen of England to help them rid the country of all the bad giants once and for all.

“BFG” is 117 minutes and rated PG for action, scary moments and rude humor. This is a very different kind of tale. Dahl combines fantasy with the frightening, and places children as the heroes, while he never patronizes his readers. Spielberg is expert at introducing extraordinary characters into worlds that are wondrous, charming and seemingly real.

This $130 million movie is visually impressive, imaginative and even charming. However, the pacing may be too deliberate (slow) for children and lack enough storyline for adults. It may not necessarily become the commercial success Spielberg and Disney had hoped. Even if these guys are not so super this time, they’re still better than most.