Big (1988 Penny Marshall)

Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg's script doesn't conjecture the massive whopper the kid has to tell when he gets home, but then a story about a 13 year old who suddenly becomes 30 doesn't expect to be closely examined. (Also that comic book for $19.99 didn't sound too expensive when you consider its potential, and that stupid skyscraper robot didn't look cheap either. Plus, with a fleabit hotel costing $17.50 a night, a salary of $187 doesn't sound much, even if it is for the week.)

The things to enjoy are the same as they have ever been: Jared Rushton's performance as Tom's friend, that slightly sinister Zoltar machine (and Howard Shore's accompanying theme), the wonderful piano duet between Hanks and kindly toy boss Robert Loggia, and Hanks' dress sense for work. But above all Tom Hanks is a marvel as he nibbles on baby sweetcorn, gets punched by a toy, leaps into double bed, and cries himself to sleep.

Some brilliant nutter called Roger Hess spent a year building a Zoltar replica, but doesn't reveal (or know) who designed it.