When one thinks of actor Anne Hathaway, people will often envision the embodiment of grace and emotional complexity in films like Les Misérables or Rachel Getting Married. Alternatively, the New York actor has found her knack for comedy, with her quirky and expressive characters in movies like Ella Enchanted or Get Smart. Anne Hathaway is undeniably a diverse talent, but one thing that would never come to the mind of many fans would be indie sci-fi.
Yet, Anne Hathaway starred in the bizarre genre mash-up that is Colossal, which blended sci-fi, action, comedy, and giant monster madness, telling an underlying story of self-discovery and an escape from abuse. The movie is not only a unique entry in the actor’s filmography but also an underrated gem worth checking out, which you can now watch for free. Here is everything you need to know about this unexpected project involving one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors.
‘Colossal,’ the Strange Genre Mashup that Starred Anne Hathaway
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Colossal
RActionComedyDocumentaryFantasySci-FiThrillerRelease DateApril 6, 2017Runtime110minutesDirectorNacho VigalondoWritersNacho Vigalondo
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Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is dealing with her struggles as an unemployed writer through alcoholism, which results in her getting kicked out of her home in New York and forced to move back to her hometown in New Hampshire. She ends up reconnecting with a childhood friend, Oscar (Jason Sudeikis), who offers her a job at the bar and provides her with more reasons to indulge in drinking. Meanwhile, a giant monster appears in Seoul, South Korea, terrorizing the residents and leaving the rest of the world to look on in wonder. As Gloria begins to realize she may have a connection with a monster, she faces another reality in her new boss, Oscar, who starts to reveal his dark side to her.
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Besides the casting of Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis also delivers one of his best performances to date as a deceptive “nice guy” turned abuser in the small-town burnout Oscar. Oscar’s friend group, which by extension becomes Gloria’s through partying, includes Joel, Garth, and Tim, played respectively by Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson, and longtime fan favorite Dan Stevens. The movie’s bizarre premise originates from the mind of director Nacho Vigalondo, who gained international attention following the cult success of his time travel horror/mystery film Timecrimes in 2007; for those who were already familiar with the director’s work, the genre-bending Colossal would not have been nearly as surprising.
‘Colossal’ Uses Kaiju Chaos To Tell a Story of Recovery
This Section Contains SpoilersPart of the reason Colossal offers Anne Hathaway one of her best roles to date is that, under the guise of absurdity, the film presents a complex portrait of addiction and self-discovery. Notably, the giant kaiju that appears and is later revealed to be controlled by Gloria in a drunken haze provides a darkly humorous personification of the internal struggles of the failed writer on a large scale. One’s struggles can seem larger than they are, and Colossal manages to highlight this without mocking the situation Gloria is in.
As the story progresses, Oscar gets more involved; his demons start to manifest in the form of a giant robot. As Gloria and Oscar begin to fight, the conflict spills over into the people of Seoul. Once again, the turmoil between the two is thrust onto the world stage, implying a grander vision of their struggles, and both perceive it as a world-shaping incident, despite it happening in their small town. The ending, which sees Gloria make her way to Korea, is also a brilliant way to transition into the idea of her finding closure after her long struggles with abuse and finding a sense of identity not dependent on the validation of others in her personal life and career; the movie ends on such an idealistic note despite its mostly somber tone.
Colossal is not so much an obscure kaiju film as it is a dark comedy/drama that cleverly uses giant monsters to explore themes of abuse, toxicity, and addiction. It may seem absurd on the surface, and there is undoubtedly that impression until the pieces start to fall into place. Still, at its core, the Anne Hathaway-led film is a competent and contemplative character study that happens to have some fun with giant, city-destroying monsters.
