Colossal has two diverse plots that surprise, intrigue, amuse and frustrate often at once

REVIEW: There are two diverse plots in comedy Colossal. Be surprised, intrigued, amused, frustrated and annoyed by how they interact.

COLOSSAL (M)

Director: Nacho Vigalondo (Open Windows)

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson, Dan Stevens.

Rating: two-and-a-half stars

A big deal, but only in short bursts

IT is a monster picture. But then again, when it really, really should be, it is not.

It is a clever indie comedy. But only when it feels like it. Sometimes it would rather be a sophisticated character study. That impulse comes and goes as well.

Just to cap it all off, there is also one ginormous plot twist that cannot even be hinted at. Just the vaguest advance knowledge about what this unusual movie is up to puts the whole exercise down for the count.

Welcome, then to Colossal, a film whose actual value struggles to match its decidedly high novelty value,

So what can be revealed here? Well, somewhere in small town America, a semi-alcoholic and totally insecure woman named Gloria (a well-cast Anne Hathaway) is in the throes of a major identity crisis. Her latest bender has cost her a boyfriend and a job.

Rekindling a friendship with the mercurial Oscar (Jason Sudeikis) — an old school buddy who also happens to own a local bar — might not be the most obvious path to recovery.

Meanwhile, in the South Korean capital Seoul, a Godzilla-like monster is appearing on a nightly basis to terrorise the city.

For the rest of the world, every live appearance by the creature (and later, a robot of equal size) becomes appointment television.

So how do these two diverse plot points intersect? You will be surprised, intrigued, amused, frustrated and annoyed by the answer. Possibly all at once.

By all means take the risk here. Just don’t go expecting the reward you think should be in order.

Originally published as Colossal has two diverse plots that surprise, intrigue, amuse and frustrate often at once