The BFG

Roald Dahl had a way with words. Such words included Nibbleswicke, Gobblefunk, and the all important Scrumdidlyumptious. Dahl wrote books of these words, one of which was The BFG. It already received visual life in 1989 with an animated TV-movie. Now, it's received cinematic 3D life courtesy of Steven Spielberg.

Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) is a London orphan under the barely-there Mrs. Clonker's thumb. One night, just after three, she stays up and sees a giant. The giant snatches her up and takes her to Giant Country. The Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance), aka The BFG, gives dreams to people. His neighbors, who have such appealing names as Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement), Bloodbottler, Bonecruncher, Gizzardgulper, Manhugger, Childchewer, Meatdripper, Maidmasher, and Butcher Boy, are much bigger than him. Therefore, they bully him.

The neighbor Giants smell Sophie, a "human bean," around the BFG. They eat "beans," so that's bad news for Sophie. Sophie implores the BFG to stand up to the bullies, but he won't. Perhaps some royal assistance is required...

The screenplay marks the final work of Melissa Mathison (ET: The Extra-Terrestrial), to whom the film is dedicated to. The sentimental mood is there, emphasized by an appropriate John Williams score. The plot is slow and questionable. The Giant took Sophie because she saw him. Even if someone believed her about Giants, she didn't know where they lived. Sophie was right. The story establishes the Neighbor giants as bullies, but their "bean eating" is regulated to offscreen villainy. That kind of lowers the threat level.

What makes the film work are its protagonists. Sophie knows what to do even if odds are against her. The BFG is a likable fellow full of amusing malapropisms, compassion and shyness. Their interactions bring out the best in them. It helps that a capable crew blended them together. The Giants were created with motion-capture; they look and feel as real as CGI humanoids can be. Production designers Rick Carter and Robert Stomberg created sets which convincingly blend real and CGI elements. You'd think the BFG's home was all CGI until you see otherwise. Anything less would've made Sophie and BFG's rapport fall apart at the seams.

The most amusing bits come when our heroes meet Queen Elizabeth II (Penelope Wilton) herself. The Queen's dry humor was most welcome and her breakfast with Sophie and the BFG was a great character set-piece. The Corgis were great just for being there.

The BFG is a good blend of Spielberg's sentimentality and Dahl's quirky humor. You won't be overwhelmed by either aspect during its 117 minutes. The characters will help you get through the slow pace. It's a real Whoopsey-splunkers time at the movies.