Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers (WGA):

Stuart Gordon (story) &
Brian Yuzna (story) ...

Release Date:

23 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The most astonishing, innovative, backyard adventure of all time!

Plot:

Wayne Szalinski is your average "nutty scientist", working on a top secret machine which miniaturizes objects...

Plot Keywords:

Scientist | Bee | Inventor | Shrinking Machine | Shrinking

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Rick Moranis	...	Wayne Szalinski
Matt Frewer	...	Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr. (Big Russ Thompson)
Marcia Strassman	...	Diane Szalinski
Kristine Sutherland	...	Mae Thompson
Thomas Wilson Brown	...	Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Jr. (Little Russell Thompson) (as Thomas Brown)
Jared Rushton	...	Ronald 'Ron' Thompson
Amy O'Neill	...	Amy Szalinski
Robert Oliveri	...	Nick Szalinski
Carl Steven	...	Tommy Pervis
Mark L. Taylor	...	Donald 'Don' Forrester
Kimmy Robertson	...	Gloria Forrester
Lou Cutell	...	Dr. Brainard
Laura Waterbury	...	Female Cop
Trevor Galtress	...	Male Cop
Martin Aylett	...	Harold Boorstein

Also Known As:

Grounded (USA) (working title)
Teenie Weenies (USA) (working title)
The Big Backyard (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:K-10/7 (1989) | Finland:S (1990) | Peru:PT | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | France:U

Filming Locations:

Estudios Churubusco Azteca, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Buena Vista Pictures

Trivia:

Chevy Chase and John Candy both turned down the role of Wayne Szalinski. Candy did however suggest Rick Moranis for the role.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the kids battle the ant, throughout the scene, there is a black cloth underneath the ant, suggesting the ant is not real but animatronic.

Quotes:

Nick Szalinski: We could be anywhere now.
Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Jr.: I think we're still in your yard.
Nick Szalinski: How do you know?
Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Jr.: Any other yard the grass would be shorter.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Bruce Willis/Neil Young (#15.1)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

Powerplay

The Good & Bad Of 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids'

BAD - In the first half of the film, the kids were annoying at times, picking on each other; the teen romance was slightly sappy, and all three fathers in the film were pictured as stupid nerds. That's PC bigotry. They never picture mothers like that, only the fathers.

GOOD - At least those nerdy parents were loving parents who cared about their kids. And, at least they were together, unlike most Hollywood films in the past 35 years. The little kid with the glasses was neat. Some of the special effects were good. The sight of parents trying to find their kids in the backyard while suspended in the air was funny. Matt Frewer had a great line, while observing Rick Moranis: "What a waste of skin!" The film had a nice ending.

OVERALL - Nothing super, but overall was an enjoyable, lighthearted, non- offensive movie.