by Cookie N Screen
I can’t find anyone who disagrees with this, but kids movies of the 80s and early 90s were amazing. In fact, I don't want to know anyone who disagrees. Because the 80s brought us imagination beyond our years, it shaped our curiosity and family fun films became crucially important and wonderfully enigmatic in this period. I mean, The Goonies, The NeverEnding Story, E.T., Back to the Future and The Princess Bride all encapsulated adventure and fantasy. But nothing ever came close to accomplishing that scientific knowledge, crazy mad-cap inventors, beasts and adventure all in your own back garden. Yes, it’s Honey, I Shrunk The Kids... right in your back garden.
I can’t find anyone who disagrees with this, but kids movies of the 80s and early 90s were amazing. In fact, I don't want to know anyone who disagrees. Because the 80s brought us imagination beyond our years, it shaped our curiosity and family fun films became crucially important and wonderfully enigmatic in this period. I mean, The Goonies, The NeverEnding Story, E.T., Back to the Future and The Princess Bride all encapsulated adventure and fantasy. But nothing ever came close to accomplishing that scientific knowledge, crazy mad-cap inventors, beasts and adventure all in your own back garden. Yes, it’s Honey, I Shrunk The Kids... right in your back garden.
This film stars 80 geek Rick Moranis as eccentric scientist Wayne Szalinski, working on a shrinking ray to impress his peers and become a distinguished man in his field. They also live next door to the Frewers, polar opposites of both Wayne and his children. However, when the neighbouring kids hit a baseball into his attic and they, as well as his own children, go up to fetch it they are accidentally shot with the machine and shrink to quarter-of-an-inch tall. Unable to grab the attention of their parents, the kids are swept up and placed in the trash at the back of the garden and they must find their way back home.
The imaginative aspect of Honey, I Shrunk The Kids caught the wondrous minds of adults and children alike, and carried through the fantastical sights and heart of the movie. With brilliant set pieces and a team of scrappy youngsters, you are carried away to this mysterious land, laughing at the smaller-than-inch tall heroes navigating their way past ants and garbage. Very much touching upon innocence and the normality of fear, we rally behind the rag tag group, which consists of a nerd, a bully, a popular girl and a jock. Yes, it’s like the miniature Breakfast Club, but infuse them with gigantic insects and a massive pet ant that they control and it’s a whirlwind of adventure.
The imaginative aspect of Honey, I Shrunk The Kids caught the wondrous minds of adults and children alike, and carried through the fantastical sights and heart of the movie. With brilliant set pieces and a team of scrappy youngsters, you are carried away to this mysterious land, laughing at the smaller-than-inch tall heroes navigating their way past ants and garbage. Very much touching upon innocence and the normality of fear, we rally behind the rag tag group, which consists of a nerd, a bully, a popular girl and a jock. Yes, it’s like the miniature Breakfast Club, but infuse them with gigantic insects and a massive pet ant that they control and it’s a whirlwind of adventure.
Not to mention the adults accurately mirror their kids' unique components. Rick Moranis, who is the epitome of movie nerds during this period of time, plays the loving, affectionate, yet buffoonish scientist alongside Marcia Strassman as the patient Diane, who has to deal with her eccentric husband whilst searching desperately for her tiny tiny children. Opposite them as the Thompsons is Matt Frewer and Kristine Sutherland, the jockish and sport-centric neighbours. As they scour the garden and house for their children, they actively showcase desperation and comedy, as well as sorting out their problems.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was never expected to do so well in cinemas, grossing its budget and spawning a couple of sequels, including the less appreciated, but stellar follow-up Honey, I Blew Up The Baby (but that’s for another anniversary because I could happily dissect that). Disney scooped up the pennies so much that up until recently, the franchise had become a show at Epcot. Today, the original cinematic fest turned 25 and perhaps I feel sentimental because I grew up with this. The gigantic objects that were originally small presented a game in your back garden. That hilarity and entertainment will timelessly make you feel like a child again.
Happy 25th Birthday!
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids was never expected to do so well in cinemas, grossing its budget and spawning a couple of sequels, including the less appreciated, but stellar follow-up Honey, I Blew Up The Baby (but that’s for another anniversary because I could happily dissect that). Disney scooped up the pennies so much that up until recently, the franchise had become a show at Epcot. Today, the original cinematic fest turned 25 and perhaps I feel sentimental because I grew up with this. The gigantic objects that were originally small presented a game in your back garden. That hilarity and entertainment will timelessly make you feel like a child again.
Happy 25th Birthday!
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