Although the Broadway musical adaptation of the popular
Tom Hanks comedy
Big was a flop, that doesn't mean that the music isn't worth listening to. Granted, it occasionally tries to hard too capture the childlike wonder that Hanks so effortlessly conveyed, but there are moments of pure joy on this original cast recording. There should be, considering that it is a collaboration between
David Shire and
Richard Maltby, Jr., two composer that have proved their worth in their work for the stage and screen. But that's part of the problem -- some of the music comes off as too slick for the story. However, the overall effect of the album is a nice, warm sense of pleasure, since much of the music is infectious and winningly melodic. ~ Rodney Batdorf