Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

Starring: Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, Amy O'Neill, Kristine Sutherland, Thomas Wilson Brown, Jared Rushton, Robert Oliveri
Directed by: Joe Johnston
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
1989

Times Seen:
Tim: 4

Summary: A scientist (Rick Moranis) working on a shrinking ray accidentally shrinks his two kids (Amy O'Neill, Rovert Oliveri) and the neighbors' two kids (Thomas Wilson Brown, Jared Rushton).

Review:

Tim: I'm not afraid to admit that I love Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. This is one of those classic films I grew up with and watched over and over again. It's an incredible adventure story with strong comedy throughout. It's a quotable, enjoyable, entertaining family film. Joe Johnston does a great job behind the camera, making this a truly remarkable film. I believe the movie has held up well over the years- it's still a great flick.

I love the idea that these four kids could have this incredible adventure without ever leaving their yards. This movie introduced kids to a whole new way to look at the world. Imagine if you were shrunk to a size smaller than an ant? I remember being a kid and looking at my house and my backyard in a completely different light. Danger was around every corner, if you were that small. The movie does a great job of embracing the adventure. Our protagonists are small, but they are determined to make it back to the house and return to normal size. The movie did a great job of balancing the terror of confronting unexpected dangers (ants, bees, lawnmowers, cereal bowls) with the freedom and excitement that adventure brings. I loved this balance- these kids are certainly afraid, but they drink up the adventure and freedom of being on their own. It perfectly captures what kids would imagine a great adventure to be.

The movie does a great job of establishing memorable characters, even without an A-list cast. Rick Moranis was the most famous actor in the film, which really isn't saying much. And yet, even decades after last watching this film, I still remember Amy, Nick, Little Russ, and Ron. They were our surrogates, our in to this world. Even though they might not have been played by the greatest actors, they felt believable and relatable. That is pretty important.

If this movie was done today (please God, no remake), it would be a shiny, CGI spectacle. It would be missing entirely what made the adventure feel so real- the grittiness of the backyard. The texture of the ant and the bee and the scorpion. Without loads of CGI, this film manages to feel believable. I loved how the blades of grass looked, the giant blue lego, the thick clumps of pollen. Special effects can be wonderful, but the practical effects in a film like this make it incredible.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids will always have a special place in my heart. It went a long way towards establishing my undying love of movies. As a child, it showed me the power that movies have- they can transport you to amazing places, make you look at old places in new ways, and broaden your horizons. This is a film that made me long for adventure and I love returning to this film and feeling that again. This is a film that awed me, inspired me- and at the end of the day, that's one of the best compliments a film can receive. This is a great, great movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Honey, I Blew Up the Kid