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A blast from my past. Joe Johnston’s family science-fiction comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) is an old favorite movie of mine ever since it was the first film I ever watched in a movie theater during a rerun showing at a theme park. It provided consistent laughter and a healthy dose of believing in myself and that things can get better. I get such a sweet feeling of nostalgia revisiting Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. It was a different time and yet, the earnest sentiments of understanding your family, neighbors, siblings, and the other sex all stand the test of time. Johnston simply directs timeless pictures with a sincere heart that you can always feel. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids remains one of my very favorite family films that I can always watch again. I remember it fondly. Johnston’s direction is very neat as he balances the parents bonding over locating their shrunken children and the kids finding common ground over their survival adventure crossing their unmown lawn. Johnston creatively uses special effects lasers, superimposed images, practical puppets, enlarged sets, and many other directorial tricks to convince the audience these young boys and girls had been hit by a shrink ray. Likewise, Hiro Narita’s cinematography messes around with all manner of strangely angled wide shots, clever close-ups, and shifting forced perspectives to make the kids look smaller. Michael A. Stevenson’s editing keeps cuts clean and quick to ensure Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ 93 minutes goes by like a Summer afternoon. I have to mention that Rick Moranis plays the quirky father Wayne Szalinski, who invents a shrink ray, then proceeds to have to find his kids in his backyard and explain to his wife what happened. Moranis is endearing as these awkward, yet lovable nerds down on his luck. He’s an adept at socially awkward conversations and interactions. I loved seeing Moranis in peak form again. Similarly, Marcia Strassman is lovely as Moranis’ wife Diane Szalinski. Her tired fatigue from working and raising a family still hits hard. Matt Frewer is funny as the dumb, mean father next door. Kristine Sutherland as Frewer’s kind and understanding wife. Thomas Wilson Brown is excellent as the older brother Russell Thomason Jr., who quits football and feels belittled by his uncompromising father. He’s very emotional and gentle, feeling like a real guy at that confusing teenage age. Jared Rushton is funny as the obnoxious younger brother Ronald Thompson in all his angst filled youth. Robert Oliveri is sweet as the young kid Nick Szalinski, who pines for his dad’s attention. I have to say that Amy O’Neill was an early crush of mine as the older sister Amy Szalinski. She’s very convincing as a frustrated teenage girl that has to clean up the house and watch over her younger brother, all while thinking about the mall and boys. Gregg Fonseca’s production design features cool sets with everything made gigantic to make the children appear smaller, down to the bugs and LEGOS. James Horner composes a playful score full of fun changes and genre blends to keep spirits high and excited throughout Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Horner was a magical composer, whose music really touched me, so I’m grateful we have all these lovely movies to remember him through his music. Lastly, Carol Brolaski’s costumes feel so very 1989 that it’s quite fun to see all the strange patterns and dated fashions. In short, Joe Johnston delivered another excellent family movie like his features Jumanji and The Pagemaster with his wonderful Disney picture Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.Read full review
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I’ve loved this movie since I was a kid. I replaced my outdated full screen dvd copy with a nice hd widescreen Blu-ray! Love it!
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This transfer on Blu Ray is amazing ! The picture quality Amazing !!!
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Gives good DMC!
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