The New York Times praised the performances of Moscow and Rushton, saying the film "features believable young teen-age mannerisms from the two real boys in its cast and this only makes Mr. He later dropped out due to "scheduling conflicts" and was replaced by Tom Hanks. Robert De Niro was originally cast in the lead role with Elizabeth Perkins. Debra Winger tried to convince Marshall to rewrite Josh into a Woman. Andy García read for Josh but one of the studio executives didn't want to spend 18 millions for "a kid to grow to be Puerto Rican" (García is actually Cuban). Sean Penn was considered for the role of Josh but Marshall deemed him too young, Gary Busey auditioned for the role of Josh but Marshall didn’t think he could pull off playing an adult. John Travolta wanted to play Josh but the studio wasn't interested in casting him. Albert Brooks was also offered the role but turned it down as he didn't want to play a kid. Kevin Costner, Steve Guttenberg, Warren Beatty and Dennis Quaid were all offered the role of Josh, all of whom turned it down. Steven Spielberg was originally attached to direct the film and wanting to cast Harrison Ford as Josh but Spielberg dropped out when his son Max was born. The Italian film Da grande (1987) has been said to be the inspiration for Big. He tells her that enjoyed their time together and suggests that she use the machine to wish herself younger, though she declines and offers to take him home.Īfter sharing an emotional goodbye with Susan, Josh becomes a child again before reuniting with his family and Billy. He is then confronted by Susan, who, seeing the machine and the fortune it has given him, realizes that he was telling the truth, and she becomes despondent at realizing their relationship would end. At the park, Josh finds the machine, unplugs it, and makes a wish to become "a kid again". Susan also leaves and encounters Billy, who tells her where Josh went. Josh learns from Billy that the Zoltar machine is now at Sea Point Park, and he leaves in the middle of his presentation to MacMillan and the other executives.
When he expresses doubts to Susan and attempts to explain that he is really a child, she interprets this as fear of commitment on his part and dismisses his explanation. Nevertheless, he feels pressured and longs for his old life. He is intimidated by the need to formulate the business aspects of the proposal, but Susan says that she will handle the business end while he comes up with the ideas. MacMillan asks Josh to come up with proposals for a new line of toys. His ideas become valuable assets to MacMillan Toys however, he begins to forget what it is like to be a child, and his tight schedule now means that he no longer has time to be with Billy. Josh becomes increasingly entwined in his "adult" life by spending time with her, mingling with her friends, and being in a steady relationship. He soon attracts the attention of Susan Lawrence, a fellow executive, and a romance begins to develop, much to the dismay of her former boyfriend, Davenport. Meanwhile, a pleased MacMillan promotes Josh to vice president in charge of Product Development. Unimpressed with the toy being pitched, Josh shocks and challenges the executives with a simple declaration that the toy is not "fun", and while his follow-up suggestions invigorate the team for new ideas, he earns the animosity of Paul Davenport, the pitch's leader. They play a duet on a Walking Piano, and MacMillan invites Josh to a massive marketing campaign pitch meeting with senior executives. MacMillan, at FAO Schwarz, and impresses him with his insight into current toys and his childlike enthusiasm. With Billy's help, he learns that it will take some time to find the Zoltar machine again, so Josh rents a flophouse in New York City and gets a job as a data entry clerk at the MacMillan Toy Company. Fleeing from her, he then finds his best friend, Billy, and convinces him of his identity by singing a rap which only they know. Returning home, he tries to explain his predicament to his mother, who, terrified, refuses to listen and threatens him, thinking he is a stranger who has kidnapped her son.
The next morning, Josh finds that he has grown into an adult he tries to locate the machine, but finds that the carnival has moved on to its next destination. It dispenses a card stating "Your wish is granted", but Josh notices that the machine has been unplugged the entire time. Dejected, he inserts a coin into an antique fortune-teller machine called Zoltar, and makes a wish to be "big". Twelve-year-old Josh Baskin is told that he is too short for a carnival ride called the Super Loops while attempting to impress a girl.