Innerspace is a fantastic sci-fi comedy that not only has a fun story but excels courtesy of the cast relying on each of their strengths to make for a good time; and not to be outdone, the effects work is still impressive decades later. The Blu-ray released by Warner is rather basic porting over the features from the previous DVD while the video/audio transfers were both well done.
Innerspace
(1987)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Comedy, Suspense
Warner Bros. | PG – 120 min. – $14.98 | August 4, 2015
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MOVIE INFO: Directed by: Joe Dante Writer(s): Chip Proser (story), Jeffrey Boam and Chip Proser (screenplay) Cast: Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy DISC INFO: * Hidden Track/Subtitle |
** Click Here to Purchase Innerspace on Blu-ray from Amazon.com **
THE MOVIE – 4.5/5
Joe Dante, best known for Gremlins 1 & 2, directs Innerspace, a fun and exhilarating sci-fi crime action adventure flick with a great core trio cast and visual effects which still hold up quite well today nearly 30 years later.
Lt. Tuck Pendleton (DENNIS QUAID) is a once respected military man on his way down in both his career and personal life. He accepts a job as a test pilot to be miniaturized and explore the inner workings of a rabbit. The technology has a lot of potential and attracts the attention of a group of criminals who break into the laboratory, while Tuck is miniaturized inside a syringe, intending on stealing the gizmos that makes it work – it doesn’t matter what they’re called, you just go with it.
One of the scientists manages to escape with the syringe and makes his way into a mall and as a last resort, after being shot by a pursuing assassin (VERNON WELLS), and injects into an unsuspecting man named Jack Putter (MARTIN SHORT), someone with anxiety issues and plans for a prescribed vacation by his doctor. But now the two are in it together and after some adjustments, Tuck makes his way through Jack’s body while in the outside world Jack’s life is in danger as the terrorists are on his trail.
They receive help from Tuck’s investigative reporter girlfriend, Lydia (MEG RYAN), who helps in their endeavors dodging bullets as well as an eccentric man known only as “The Cowboy” (ROBERT PICARDO), in town to buy the shrinking technology.
I actually had not seen Innerspace in a long time, at least a decade if not longer, but I remember it being a lot of fun and it delivers in not only the entertainment quotient this time around, but the visual effects seemed to have aged rather well. But at the crux of the film’s success is with the core cast of Dennis Quaid, Martin Short and Meg Ryan who all turn in wonderful performances, each playing to their strengths from Quaid’s more heroic persona, Short’s physical comedy and Ryan’s utterly cute tenacity.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 1.5/5
The features are a bit light but at least Warner ported over them from the DVD release.
Audio Commentary with Director Joe Dante, Producer Michael Finnell, Actors Kevin McCarthy & Robert Ricardo and Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Muren
Theatrical Trailer (1:30)
VIDEO – 4.5/5
Warner Home Video releases Innerspace presented with a 1.78 widescreen aspect ratio (released 1.85 theatrically) and given nice looking 1080p high-definition transfer. The video shows off good-to-excellent detail levels throughout while colors are well balanced. There didn’t appear to be any major instances of aliasing, artifacts or other ailments.
AUDIO – 4.25/5
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides for good dialogue levels throughout and although it’s not an entirely dynamic track or anything, it does come somewhat to life through the few action-centric scenes. The front and rear channels are relatively subdued, the latter especially, but get some usage for ambient noises as well as the score.
OVERALL – 4.0/5
Overall, Innerspace is a fantastic sci-fi comedy that not only has a fun story but excels courtesy of the cast relying on each of their strengths to make for a good time; and not to be outdone, the effects work is still impressive decades later. The Blu-ray released by Warner is rather basic porting over the features from the previous DVD while the video/audio transfers were both well done.
Brian Oliver aka The Movieman
Published: 07/30/2015
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.