Hotshot Air Force test pilot Tuck Pendelton (Dennis Quaid) is placed in a capsule and miniaturised to the size of a microbe to take part in an experiment where he will be injected into an unsuspecting laboratory rabbit.
Last-minute interference from a group which wants to get its hands on the secrets of the process. results in Tuck being mistakenly injected into the body of an innocent passer-by – hapless hypochondriac supermarket clerk Jack Putter (Martin Short).
Bouncing around in Jack’s body (and still believing it’s a rabbit’s), Tuck manages to manoeuvre his craft behind Jack’s eyes.
When he realises what has happened, he communicates with Jack, who, after getting over the idea of being possessed, is able to answer back.
Of course, no one else can hear Tuck. Complication #1.
Tuck becomes Jack’s very audible conscience and coach. telling him how to handle the villains (who by now know just where Tuck is tucked). He gets Jack through such dicey moments as escaping from a speeding truck and into a car driven by Tuck’s girl. Lydia (Meg Ryan).
Through Jack, she knows Tuck is in trouble but is unaware of just how close he is.
This attempt to update Fantastic Voyage(1966) doesn’t measure up to director Joe Dante’s best work, but it’s still a notch above the usual Hollywood fodder.
The effects are excellent, and Dante’s sly humour shines through occasionally, but it lacks the anarchy the director is noted for, and Short’s hysterics eventually begin to grate.
There are good supporting turns from Kevin McCarthy and Henry Gibson. Dante regular Dick Miller, once a fixture in Roger Corman’s movies, has a cameo as a cab driver.
Lieutenant Tuck Pendelton
Dennis Quaid Jack Putter
Martin Short Lydia Maxwell
Meg Ryan Victor Scrimshaw
Kevin McCarthy Dr Margaret Canker
Fiona Lewis Mr Igoe
Vernon Wells The Cowboy
Robert Picardo Wendy
Wendy Schaal Pete Blanchard
Harold Sylvester Dr Greenbush
William Schallert Mr Wormwood
Henry Gibson Ozzie Wexler
John Hora Dr Niles
Mark L. Taylor Duane
Kevin Hooks
Director
Joe Dante
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Bouncing around in Jack’s body (and still believing it’s a rabbit’s), Tuck manages to manoeuvre his craft behind Jack’s eyes.
This attempt to update Fantastic Voyage (1966) doesn’t measure up to director Joe Dante’s best work, but it’s still a notch above the usual Hollywood fodder.
