Review: 'Gigantic'

In co-writer and director Matt Aselton's "Gigantic," one of those indies that seems to be trying to top the quirkiness quotient of "Juno," Paul Dano plays a mattress salesman who from childhood has longed to adopt a Chinese baby for reasons known only to him (if that).

Dano's Brian is a shy, almost neurasthenic chap, which makes sense when you meet his blustery much older brothers and father (Edward Asner). Who wouldn't back down in the face of these guys? Brian's determination to be a single father, which is intended to be cute, comes across as borderline creepy because he seems so ill-equipped for the task. Then he falls for Harriet (Zooey Deschanel), the wayward daughter of a wealthy client (John Goodman). Harriet has commitment issues, her father has a world-class bad back.

Dysfunctional families abound in "Gigantic." The whole shebang is souped-up with forced idiosyncrasies. Grade: C+ (Rated R for language, some sexual content, and violence.)