Written by: Stuart Gordon & Brian Yuzna & Ed Naha (story), Ed Naha and Tom Schulman (screenplay)
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Starring: Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, Thomas Wilson Brown, Jared Rushton, Amy O'Neill, Robert Oliveri
Rated: PG
Watch the trailer
Plot
A scientist father accidentally shrinks his two children and two other neighborhood teens to the size of insects. Now the teens must fight diminutive dangers as the father desperately searches for them.
Verdict
This movie is a pop culture key stone for a reason. It's a fun and imaginative adventure. While the concept alone could carry this movie, it has romance, adventure, and character development. The effects are practical. You can tell, but it adds charm to the movie, and frequently a sense of realism. Each character has a challenge to overcome, not just relying on the gimmick of being tiny.
Watch it.
Review
It's been a long time since I had seen this. I remembered the general plot, but I was happy that the movie is more than just concept. This has a story. Two teens, Russ and Amy, in different social circles connect while two different families overcome their differences and help each other in a crazy situation.
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| The machine that stars the plot. |
I had forgotten how long credits could be and this gets an animated sequence too. It's a boring short film of credits at the beginning that apparently wants to turn you away from the movie.
It's a fun fantasy, and the sets add to that. With such a disparate scale the sets don't have to look real. The objects are so large that they would look more like a cartoon. CGI would lose something, though I'm surprised there hasn't been a remake with flashy CGI. The inherent problem is that a remake would rely completely on the dazzle of CGI.
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| Jared Rushton and Amy O'Neill play Amy and Ron. |
This movie seemingly coasts on the concept, but then it starts to develop the romance between Russ and Amy. They're in different circles, but this adventure in a strange land brings all four kids together. Russ impresses Amy, though that isn't his intention. They are in a life and death situation. They can't make it without sticking together. While they are only in the backyard, their size makes the backyard a harsh jungle full of danger.
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| Robert Oliveri, Jared Rushton, Amy O'Neill, Thomas Wilson Brown |
There are plenty of kid fantasy adventure movies, but this world sets the movie apart. Any other movie that tries an adventure of this scale automatically feels like it's copying this movie. You can do pirates all day long and just be similar. With the minute objects made huge, only one movie can do that.
With romance and adventure, this even makes us feel sympathy for an ant. All of the small objects in life that are ignored become dangerous. An ant that we hardly ever notice becomes a hero. Sprinklers create a flood, while a discarded cigarette butt poses a dire threat.
I don't think this movie is meant to go deep, but it can cause you to question the callousness with how the world is treated, at least the tiny world we so often ignore. Every decision has a consequence even if it doesn't affect what we do and see.
We get a happy ending to wrap everything up, and this movie manages to earn it. This is an adventure unlike any other that causes you to think about what the world around you would look like froma very unique perspective.
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