She leaves their New York apartment and heads for the generic sleepy Midwestern town where she grew up, with no firm plan and an even less firm inflatable mattress. Once there, she’s reunited with her childhood best pal Oscar (Sudeikis), a bar owner who can provide Gloria with furniture, a part-time job and night-time lock-ins with local barflies Garth (Blake Nelson) and Joel (Stowell).

 

One night, walking home in a characteristically stocious stupor, Gloria falls asleep in a playground. She awakens to discover rolling news reports of a giant reptilian monster terrorising urban Koreans. But wait. There’s something awfully familiar about that beast.

 

The ensuing midway twist that links monster and loser is a doozy, but Colossal has even more surprises up its sleeve. A movie that looks like the most fun you can have around the theme of personal responsibility soon takes a darker swerve, before delivering a grand, operatic denouement.

 

Hathaway has seldom been better or more likeable: we cheer her dishevelled ne-er-do-well along, because of her flaws, not despite them. Sudeikis and Stevens come baring sucker punches. Bear McCreary’s score and Eric Kress’s cinematography bridges the gap between the film’s waring worlds.

 

A dazzlingly original fantasy conceit, worked to perfection. Take note DCEU and Marvelverse.(Irish Times)