One of the most difficult things for some adult children to do is to genuinely get to know their parents, not as authority figures but as people. In “Big Fish,” Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) has just this problem, with an added layer of complexity: Throughout his life, his father, Edward (Albert Finney), has told him the same fantastical tales over and over, but while Ed insists all Will needs to know about him is embedded in his stories, Will believes they’re nothing but lies. This has kept the two men at odds for most of Will’s adult life. So when he learns his father is dying, Will returns to his childhood home determined to finally learn the true story of Ed’s life.
While the backbone of the movie is the conversations between Will and Ed, the film is filled out by dramatizations of Ed’s curious tales, which feature a younger version of himself (Ewan McGregor) as the protagonist. This makes “Big Fish” come across as something of a fairy tale, with director Tim Burton providing plenty of fantastical flourishes and enchanting visuals to maintain the mood. Ultimately, though, “Big Fish” is a moving story about coming to terms with your parents, whether they’re who you want them to be or not.