Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

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 | Shrinking | Inventor | Laser | Bee

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, México D.F., Mexico

Company:

Buena Vista Pictures

Trivia:

Joe Johnston's directorial debut.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At the beginning of the movie, a letter carrier is delivering mail. There is a mailbox with the flag up. He should open it, remove the outgoing mail, put the flag down and deliver incoming mail. However, he just opens the box and delivers the incoming mail, leaving the flag up.

Quotes:

Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr.: [knowing about his kids missing] Don, uh, something's come up. I don't think we're gonna be able to make it. Maybe you better go on ahead.
Donald 'Don' Forrester: What - what do you mean you don't think you'll be able to make it? We're caravanning, good buddy.
Gloria Forrester: [about Wayne flying] Donald, I am telling...
Donald 'Don' Forrester: Not now, Gloria!
[to Russ, Sr]
Donald 'Don' Forrester: And besides, if you're not there by 6:00, you'll lose your deposit.
Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr.: Confidentially... Mae hasn't been feeling to well - plumbing.
Donald 'Don' Forrester: Plumbing? This isn't the Big Russ Thompson I know. Plumbing would not stop the Big Russ Thompson I know. Especially with an $80 deposit on the line?
Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr.: Don, hook a big on for me, okay?
[he puts his hand on Don's shoulder which takes off a fish hook accessory off the lifejacket until Russ, Sr. leaves]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: Sherman of Arabia (#2.7)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Theme from 'Amarcord'

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.