"The Big Friendly Giant" (or "The BFG" to the double-entendre obsessed) is a big disappointment.

"The BFG," directed by Steven Spielberg, is based on the best-selling 1982 children's book of the same title written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake.The problem with "BFG" cannot solely be blamed on Spielberg. The book, padded out from a short story, has inherent structural challenges. Once the set-up is achieved, it's mostly downhill plotwise. This review contains spoilers. It's assumed you're familiar with the book.The screenplay by Melissa Mathison (1950-2015) sticks to the book's premise, which is sick and disgusting. The 24-foot-tall BFG is an outcast among other giants because he won't eat children.Ten-year-old orphan, Sophie (Ruby Barnhill, in a commendable big-screen debut), convinces the Queen of England (Penelope Wilton) to enlist Great Britain's military to capture the nine other giants, accomplished with helicopters and nets to carry them off to an isolated island (perhaps the Falklands, though unnamed).The book dwells on flatulence, called whizpopping by The BFG, which should delight young readers and young moviegoers. Drinking frobscottle causes gas because its bubbles sink rather than rise (Hey, I didn't make this stuff up.).This, ahem, effect is introduced by The BFG, who presents a glass of frobscottle to Sophie and has a glass for himself. Later, in the formal confines of Buckingham Palace, the Queen and her court (including Rebecca Hall and Rafe Spall) experience the same effect. It was necessary to see "The BFG" in 3D for this review to experience the full effect (actually, 2D is fine for this film).The names of giants, Fleshlumpeater, Manhugger, Meatdripper, Childchewer, Butcher Boy, Bloodbottler, Maidmasher, Bonecruncher and Gizzardgulper, indicate "The BFG" is really, or should be, a horror film. Tim Burton might have been a better choice as director. Spielberg is too kindly.The film is a literal, realistic and detailed interpretation. The book's willowy sketches serve the story better because they tone down the depravity. The movie amps it up. Even the score by John Williams seems intrusive.The friendship between The BFG and Sophie is problematic. Sophie is a pre-teen in a nightgown abducted by an elderly man. At one point, she's plunged into a snozzcumber, a worm-oozing cucumber. She's hosed off, drenched to the skin. Sophie is also tossed around in a frying pan.It's all especially disturbing because the computer-generated animation and motion-capture filmmaking makes it seem so realistic."The BFG" is cringe-worthy. It's questionable as to what age a child should be in order to see this film.Yes, "The BFG" is amazing-looking because of the computer-generated imagery and motion-capture (whereby an actor's movements are filmed as the basis for the animation).It must have been great fun for Spielberg to play in the computer-generated sandbox for "The BFG." Most impressive is The BFG, voiced and with a semblance of facial expressions by Mark Rylance (supporting actor Oscar recipient, "Bridge of Spies," 2015, also directed by Spielberg).The BFG carries a long brass horn, in which he places contents of bottles, and then blows the mixture into the mouths of sleeping children. The swooshing dreams are reminiscent of Tinker Bell in "Peter Pan."The settings of the Harry Potteresque streets of London and of Giant Country are amazing to behold. The BFG's cloak is akin to Harry's invisibility cloak. The language of The BFG is fascinating."The BFG" could have been a classic contender. Alas, it lacks charm. It's big and plodding, just like the giants in it."The BFG,"MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children.) for action-peril, some scary moments and brief rude humor; Genre: Adventure, Fantasy; Run time: 1 hr., 57 min.; Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.Credit Readers Anonymous:"The BFG" was filmed in England, Scotland and Canada.Box Office,July 8: It took an animated feature, "The Secret Life of Pets," opening with $103.1 million, a record for a new characters animated feature, to chase another animated feature, "Finding Dory," to No. 3 after three weeks at No. 1, with $20.3 million, $422.5 million, four weeks, to become the highest-grossing domestic release of 2016 and third highest-grossing animated feature ever, with "The Legend of Tarzan" clinging again to No. 2, with $20.6 million, $81.4 million, two weeks, valet-parking "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" at No. 4, opening with $16.6 million;5. "The Purge: Election Year," $11.7 million, $58.1 million, two weeks; 6. "Central Intelligence," $8.1 million, $108.3 million, four weeks; 7. "Independence Day: Resurgence," $7.7 million, $91.4 million, three weeks; 8. "The BFG," $7.6 million, $38.7 million, two weeks; 9. "The Shallows," $4.8 million, $45.8 million, three weeks; 10. "Sultan," $2.2 million, weekend, $3.2 million, since July 6.Unreel,July 15:"Ghostbusters,"PG-13: Paul Feig directs Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones in the female reboot 30 years after the science-fiction comedy materialized on the big screen."The Infiltrator,"R: Brad Furman directs Bryan Cranston, John Leguizamo, Diane Kruger and Amy Ryan in the biography-crime drama about a United States Customs official investigating money laundering by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar."Café Society,"PG-13: Woody Allen directs Steve Carell, Sheryl Lee, Todd Weeks and Paul Schackman in a romantic-comedy about a 1930s young Bronx native who falls in love with a Hollywood secretary.Two popcorn boxes out of five popcorn boxes.