Honey, I went to the well once too often!
Or maybe not."Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!" marks the Walt Disney studio's first live-action, direct-to-video, sell-through effort, a second sequel to "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."
And while it would certainly fall short as a big-screen venture, "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!" plays pretty well on television. In a sitcom kind of way.
Both "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and its first sequel, "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," were unexpected successes - hitting it big at the box office and garnering surprisingly favorable reviews.
"Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!" (scheduled to land in stores on Tuesday) isn't quite up to the standard set by the first two pictures, but it does have its moments.
Best of all, it has Rick Moranis back as nerdy absent-minded scientist Wayne Szalinski. Moranis' energy and personable charm set the tone for the proceedings here, though the emphasis is clearly on special effects and oversized props.
In fact, the story is merely a contrived excuse to make four adults microscopic so that they'll have to contend with the dangers of everyday objects and creatures that suddenly seem gargantuan.
For the record, the movie has Wayne and his brother (Stuart Pankin), who are also business partners, stay behind to watch the kids while their wives (Eve Gordon, taking over for Marcia Strassman, and Robin Bartlett, respectively) head for a getaway vacation. Among other things, Wayne's bizarre inventions are starting to get on his wife's nerves.
She also gives Wayne strict orders to get rid of his 7-foot "Tiki Man," which is lodged in the living room. So, naturally, he decides to use his shrinking machine to make it small enough to keep in his pocket.
And as you might expect, Wayne accidentally shrinks himself and his brother and then their wives. The rest of the film has them trying to get the attention of their three pre-adolescent children, who are disobeying the rules and throwing a party - unaware that their parents are observing their every move. (They also explode balloons filled with chili in the microwave and then build a volcano that erupts chili all over the kitchen.)
The parents' antics are the central focus, however, as they confront a killer cockroach (by hiding in a Roach Motel), meet up with a friendly daddy longlegs, take a hair-raising ride in a Hot Wheels car, fall into a bowl of onion dip, float around the house in soap bubbles, etc.
The biggest problem with "Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!" is that it doesn't have nearly as many laughs as the other two films, which could send parents away early.
Still, at a scant 75 minutes, the film moves quite well and has enough goofy effects-driven sequences to keep the attention of children.
"Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!" is rated PG for some crass language and comic mayhem.
And while it is certainly a family-friendly effort - complete with a warm-and-fuzzy, kids-need-attention message - it could have been even more family-friendly if it had left out the profanity and vulgarity altogether in what is clearly a movie aimed at children.
By the way, look for straight-to-tape sequels to "The Lion King" and "Toy Story" in the months ahead, as Disney looks to dominate the family video market the same way it does the family movie market.
NEW VIDEOS
THE LAND BEFORE TIME IV: JOURNEY THROUGH THE MISTS - Those "Land Before Time" dinosaurs just don't quit. In the fourth chapter of these prehistoric tales for kids, the bronto tyke Littlefoot leads his ailing great-big granddaddy from the Great Valley to the Land of Mists, where healing flowers grow. As usual, Littlefoot is joined by his dino-pals, Cera, Ducky, Petrie and Spike. The material is geared for 3- to 6-year-olds. G, 1996, Universal, $19.98.
- Max McQueen
(Cox News Service)
TOM THUMB MEETS THUM-BELINA - At $9.98, this Sony Wonder is a real bargain. The idea behind the pairing of two of the smallest heroes in children's literature is that size doesn't matter. Part of the "Enchanted Tales" series, it's a pleasant little morality yarn, for young children especially.
- Michael Blowen
(Boston Globe)
WEE SINGDOM: THE LAND OF MUSIC AND FUN - Welcome back to Singalingaland for the 10th time. This hour video will keep 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds happy as song leaders Annie and Tim lead juvenile video viewers through a string of songs played by an orchestra of musical garden plants which includes Dandelion Drum, Rose Cello and Tulip Tuba. Unrated, 1996, Universal, $12.98.
- Max McQueen
(Cox News Service)
THE BIRTH OF BETTY - Betty Boop is the most popular female star in cartoon history, but she began her career in the early 1930s as a sort of dog-woman with floppy ears and a canine friend named Bimbo, who was often the main character. Volume 1 of "Betty Boop: The Definitive Collection" shows her transformation into a full-fledged human with a squeaky voice, a perky attitude, and a penchant for sassy adventures. Titles range from "Mysterious Mose" to "Silly Scandals," and most of the action is accompanied by wild and wonderful jazz. Not rated. Republic Pictures.
- David Sterritt
(Christian Science Monitor)
QUACKERY GALLERY - Bob McCoy's Museum of Questionable Medical Devices is a hilarious trip through America's love affair with con artistry and medical quackery. You'll see machines that claim to cure everything from bunions to brain tumors. The production values aren't up to the concept, but it still makes for an hour of fun.
- Michael Blowen
(The Boston Globe)
THE BISHOP'S WIFE - No fewer than five Academy Award nominations went to this 1947 comedy, remade as "The Preacher's Wife" almost 50 years later. The hero is an angel (Cary Grant), sent to help an anxiety-filled clergyman (David Niven) who wants to build the most impressive new church money can buy. Things get more complicated when the heavenly visitor meets the bishop's neglected spouse (Loretta Young) and nearly gets sidetracked by his determination to cheer her up. More witty than laugh-out-loud funny. Not rated; HBO Home Video.
- David Sterritt
(The Christian Science Monitor)