The Story of Gigantic: Adoption, Romance, and Chaos
Gigantic follows Brian, a young mattress salesman with a sincere, almost naive dream: to adopt a baby from China and build a family on his own terms. It's a genuinely sweet premise. But then he walks into his own store one day and meets Harriet, a wealthy, unpredictable woman who's equally committed to her own strange worldview. Their connection is instant and messy. As Brian finds himself pulled deeper into Harriet's orbit—her peculiar family, her money, her chaos—his adoption plans get sidelined. What he doesn't know is that somewhere in the background, a hitman has been hired to kill him. The film juggles these three threads: Brian's parental ambitions, his romance with Harriet, and the looming threat of assassination. Whether it all comes together gracefully is another question entirely.
Behind the Making of Gigantic: Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, and Independent Cinema
Director Matt Aselton co-wrote Gigantic with Adam Nagata, drawing inspiration from Aselton's own childhood wish that his parents would adopt a Chinese baby. That personal origin story gives the film's central premise real weight—this wasn't some cynical Hollywood pitch, but a genuine emotional memory translated to screen. The production shot across New York and Connecticut, capturing that indie-film aesthetic of real locations and lived-in spaces rather than polished studio sets. Aselton brought together a cast with serious pedigree: Paul Dano (then rising after There Will Be Blood) as Brian, Zooey Deschanel as Harriet, and supporting players including John Goodman, Edward Asner, and Jane Alexander. The film premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival before rolling out to U.S. theaters on April 3, 2009. It didn't become a box-office juggernaut—indie comedies rarely do—but it found an audience among those who appreciate films that refuse to play it safe. The IMDb score of 5.6/10 reflects a divided reception: some viewers embrace its weirdness, while others find it artificially strange and tonally inconsistent.
What Makes Gigantic Stand Out: Dano and Deschanel's Commitment to the Weird
What's striking is how hard Dano and Deschanel commit to their roles. Dano plays Brian with genuine earnestness—he's not winking at the audience, he's not self-aware about his mattress-store existence or his adoption dream. He wants to be a father. That vulnerability is the emotional anchor. Deschanel, meanwhile, leans into Harriet's eccentricity without letting it become a caricature. She's wealthy and weird, yes, but she's also someone searching for connection, and Deschanel finds the loneliness underneath the performance art. The chemistry between them is odd but oddly compelling—they feel like two people who genuinely don't fit anywhere else, so they fit with each other. The thing nobody mentions is that the film's tonal whiplash—jumping between romantic comedy, family drama, and thriller—might actually be the point. Life doesn't fit neatly into genres. Relationships don't follow three-act structure. The hitman subplot, which sounds absurd on paper, forces the film to acknowledge that real stakes exist even in the most indie, twee scenarios. It's a risk that doesn't always pay off, but you can't fault the ambition.
Where to Stream Gigantic Online
Gigantic is available on major OTT services, and Movie OTT tracks current streaming availability across platforms so you don't have to hunt. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page shows you exactly which services are currently carrying it in your region. Since streaming catalogs shift frequently, checking there first will save you the frustration of signing into three apps only to find it's not available. Indie comedies from 2008 sometimes rotate off platforms, so if you've been meaning to watch it, it's worth checking availability before you get too settled in.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Gigantic and what was the inspiration?
Matt Aselton directed and co-wrote the film with Adam Nagata. Aselton drew the story from his own childhood desire for his parents to adopt a Chinese baby, giving the film's central premise a deeply personal foundation.
Q: Is Gigantic based on a true story?
Not directly. While inspired by Aselton's personal childhood wish, Gigantic is a fictional comedy that uses that kernel of truth as a jumping-off point for a larger story about romance, family, and unexpected complications.
Q: What's the runtime and rating of Gigantic?
The film runs 99 minutes. It's rated PG-13, making it accessible to a broad audience, though the quirky humor and mature themes may appeal more to older teens and adults.
Q: Why does Gigantic have such a low IMDb rating?
The film divides viewers. Some appreciate its willingness to be weird and its refusal to follow rom-com conventions. Others find the tone inconsistent and the artificial weirdness forced rather than organic—it's a film that works brilliantly for some and falls flat for others.
Q: Where can I watch Gigantic right now?
Check the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page or visit Movie OTT to see which streaming services currently have it available in your area.
Final Thoughts on Gigantic: Not for Everyone, But Worth a Shot
Gigantic swings for the fences. It's weird, it's sincere, and it refuses to compromise its oddball vision for mainstream palatability. That's admirable. Whether it lands depends entirely on your tolerance for films that prioritize character eccentricity over plot coherence and emotional authenticity over easy laughs. Dano and Deschanel are genuinely good here, and there's something to be said for a 2008 indie comedy that dares to include a hitman subplot and Chinese adoption alongside mattress sales. Not every swing connects, but the effort itself is worth respecting.
