Disney revived the bumbling inventor comedy of The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964) with 1989’s Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
In this modern update of the classic sub-genre, Rick Moranis filled the excitable, eccentric genius role, and a talented effects crew brought the story to life with visuals light years ahead of flubberised basketball games.
Moranis is Wayne Szalinski, an absent-minded scientist – and while we’re on the subject, why is it that all brilliant scientists are so absent-minded? and how do they manage such earth-shattering innovations if they all have the addled brain of an octogenarian Alzheimer’s sufferer? – who accidentally miniaturises his children (and the next door neighbours).
Then he desperately tries to get them back to normal. That’s about it.
But the story takes a back seat to wonderful special effects as the tiny kids battle giant honeybees and breakfast cereals.
In addition to Moranis, the cast included Matt Frewer (TV’s Max Headroom) and Marcia Strassman (Mrs Kotter on Welcome Back, Kotter).
The film was the directorial debut of former special effects guru Joe Johnston (later the director of Jumanji and October Sky), and the Star Wars FX veteran put his skills to good use, overseeing such memorable moments as a thrilling, precarious bee ride.
A surprise blockbuster, the film led to a 1992 sequel, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids TV series, the direct-to-video Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, and an attraction at Disneyland’s revamped Tomorrowland, “Honey, We Shrunk the Audience”. Amazingly, Mrs Szalinski has yet to file divorce papers.
Fun for the whole family, and we do like Rick Moranis here at Nostalgia Central Towers so we couldn’t hate this film even if we tried.
Wayne Szalinski
Rick Moranis
Big Russ Thompson
Matt Frewer
Diane Szalinski
Marcia Strassman
Mae Thompson
Kristine Sutherland
Little Russ Thompson
Thomas Wilson Brown
Ron Thompson
Jared Rushton
Amy Szalinski
Amy O’Neill
Nick Szalinski
Robert Oliveri
Tommy Pervis
Carl Steven
Don Forrester
Mark L. Taylor
Gloria Forrester
Kimmy Robertson
Dr Brainard
Lou Cutell
Harold Boorstein
Martin Aylett
Director
Joe Johnston
