Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns (2002)--3/5

One key element is missing from this heartfelt documentary: "Tiny Toon Adventures." This is a somewhat selfish criticism, since the show's videos--for "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and "Particle Man"--were my first exposure to They Might Be Giants. It was two years, from fifth grade to seventh, before I finally connected those unforgettable songs to the band. (Yes, I know they say the name of the band on "Tiny Toons." It's a hard name for a ten-year-old to remember.) I'd bet that this story is similar for many nerds my age.

"Gigantic" mostly serves as a reminder of the obsessive, unique perspective the two Johns bring to songwriting. Cultists will appreciate a glimpse of the actual Dial-a-Song--actually an old cassette answering machine--still running in Flansburgh's old apartment. Dial-a-Song has come to define They Might Be Giants. It's a free, direct contact with the fans, playing one song to one caller at a time. And it's an external brain for the Johns. With minor effort, they can offload whatever melody or song-fragment they're working on at any given time.

Did They Might Be Giants get all the MTV airplay that "Gigantic" claims they did? Were they really the "vanguard" of indie music? Maybe and yes, along with other bands, but all movies about bands are ego-massagers. They're getting a movie made about them. They must be important!

(They are important.)