Nacho Vigalondo directs Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis and Dan Stevens in this fantasy drama about an alcoholic burnout whose return to her small town home seemingly prompts the freak appearance of a gigantic monster on the other side of the globe. 

If you watched the trailer or even the first act of Colossal you’d be expecting an achingly quirky indie drama or romantic comedy with added mega FX. And this part of the narrative is effective if not quite as fun as it could be. At the midway point things completely switch up, going down a very dark route for something sold as being a light romp. This proves a risky yet potentially more rewarding thread, adding some real drama to the proceedings and giving the talented cast some pretty juicy chunks to chew on. Yet I bought a ticket for an adorable loser controls a Godzilla comedy and there’s no getting away from the fact, initial rope-a-dope aside, Colossal definitely is not that movie. I walked away impressed but unsatisfied. The salty drama about bullying and control we find ourselves in might be worthier but it isn’t anywhere near as entertaining as what is abandoned.

5