A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids belongs in the canon of classic live-action Disney movies. It's a fun and clever movie with memorable characters and strong performances. The story works for children and adults and the special effects are still pretty believable after 20 years. Wow! It really came out over 20 years ago? I suddenly feel old.

This film is pretty good. It is funny, inventive, and memorable. The acting in this film is really well done. The story, while somewhat flawed, is mostly well written as well. I was impressed with how this film turned out and I think it is indeed one of Rick Moranis's most memorable. However, there isn't a pretty great film without its flaws, and this is no different. While the story is well written, I feel like the movie stretched out the whole being shrunken in grass much too long. I was waiting for them to finally get out of the grass and maybe explore the whole house instead of just the attic and kitchen table. Because of this, this film feels very stretched and kind of seems more of something that could have been made into 30 minutes due to how kind of dragged on it feels. But besides that, I think this film is very memorable and a staple of the filmography of Rick Moranis, and I think anyone who hasn't seen it yet will most likely enjoy it, like I did for the most part.

How realistic is the bee sequence?So, I don't know about all you fine people, but I for one bought into the whole idea of the shrink ray. So we're going to put that to the side and call it…. Realistic.Now, on to the bee. At some point during the film, our crazy group of youngsters find themselves at odds with a bee. The bee is very big, and drags two of the party away for a trip around the yard. It is subsequently hit with a baseball bat, while the kids are on board, and crashes. But it doesn't just crash anywhere in the "three mile" yard, it crashes right next to where they left. Let me re-iterate. Two 1/4 inch kids, were hit with a baseball bat, survived. Then plummeted toward the earth, landing in dense jungle (equivalent), survived. Then, as though lighting struck the same place twice, they return to their friends completely unscathed.It seems to me they could have simply had Wayne run away, and had the bee return to the flower that it abandoned. That would have been waaaay more believable…. you know, given that this movie is already unbelievable. Why push it.Why are the parents so calm?Big Russ seems to be the only one who is emotionally invested in the outcome of his children. Yes, he's a douche, but all the other parents seem to have some kinda nonchalance. Wayne and Diane find time to repair their failing marriage. Diane only seems to be worried that her daughter "behaves" with the neighbour boy. Mae spends all her time trying to rein in her husband, and his exuberance. But that night, everyone sleeps…Sleep?Call me crazy, but this might be an extreme situation. How could anyone sleep one day after the fact? I know, Wayne stays up to complete the repairs, but he does fall asleep…. Idiot. And really? Who would take a club to years of hard work? He trashed that machine without much provocation. Even if it never worked, he could have sold it as a death ray…..Alternate plans.Build a signal fire. Stay with the garbage. Travel on pavement, or along the fence. The parents could have instructed them. (Guided them, given them options, done something other then look through a spyglass) Call the authorities, (I'm sure they could have gotten the attention of someone with real clout. It's a shrink ray for gods sake, anyone would pay to see that work) ConclusionIt was a spectacle piece, and the only reason I wanted it to make more sense, was because I liked it. It was fun.http://www.primarilycritical.com

What the other reviews do not mention is one salient point. The film works. It starts up like an old reliable VW Bug and just keeps going. If you think that is easy, try to remember how many films you have seen where you were looking at your watch by the 30 minute mark. The key is the chemistry between Rick Moranis and Marcia Strassman, both under-used actors, both used to perfection in this vehicle. The child actors were great, but what fun would this be without Moranis, cool in the face of difficulty, methodically searching every inch of grass on his lawn trying to find his kids...? And selling it -- you could actually believe that this guy felt he had everything under control. And Strassman, of WELCOME BACK KOTTER fame, is just under-used, period. The film is sit-back-and-enjoy it fun. No special awards. No special buzz (except for the spinoffs, which were never as good). Just entertainment. What more do you want?