Plot
A hapless store clerk must foil criminals to save the life of the man who, miniaturized in a secret experiment, was accidentally injected into him.
Release Year: 1987
Rating: 6.6/10 (22,192 voted)
Director:
Joe Dante
Stars: Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan
Storyline Tuck Pendleton is a cocky pilot, who is taking part in a miniaturization experiment. When some bad guys break into the lab to steal the technology, one of the scientists takes a syringe which contains the miniaturized Tuck and vessel. Now in the vessel is part of the material needed to restore him. But the other part which is the lab is stolen. The scientist's shot but before dying he injects Tuck into Jack Putter, a hypochondriac, who feels that something is wrong with him all the time. When Tuck links himself to Jack's systems, he discovers that something happened. So they go back to the lab, and discover what happened. Now they are told that unless they retrieve the material that was stolen they won't be able to restore Tuck before his oxygen is depleted. Now the government rep decides that the only thing that matters that as long as they have the other half of the material...
Writers: Chip Proser, Jeffrey Boam
Cast: Dennis Quaid
-
Lt. Tuck Pendleton
Martin Short
-
Jack Putter
Meg Ryan
-
Lydia Maxwell
Kevin McCarthy
-
Victor Eugene Scrimshaw
Fiona Lewis
-
Dr. Margaret Canker
Vernon Wells
-
Mr. Igoe
Robert Picardo
-
The Cowboy
Wendy Schaal
-
Wendy
Harold Sylvester
-
Pete Blanchard
William Schallert
-
Dr. Greenbush
Henry Gibson
-
Mr. Wormwood
John Hora
-
Ozzie Wexler
Mark L. Taylor
-
Dr. Niles
Orson Bean
-
Lydia's Editor
Kevin Hooks
-
Duane
Taglines:
Take a trip you'll never forget.
Release Date: 1 July 1987
Filming Locations: California State University Northridge - 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, Los Angeles, California, USA
Opening Weekend: $4,739,000
(USA)
(5 July 1987)
(1603 Screens)
Gross: $25,893,810
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
The lab workers seen during the scene where Dennis Quaid is about to be miniaturized were in fact real laboratory workers, as actors would not have been suitable to performing what real lab rats do.
Goofs:
Factual errors:
Tuck's mini computer keyboard has a slightly altered QWERTY layout. "Z" is found to the right of "L" and under "P" - which arguably may not be a goof even if it would make typing difficult - but the bottom row reverses the usual placement of "V" and "C" as well, which has to be purely a mistake.
Quotes:
[reading from computer, how to enlarge a person]
Jack Putter:
Eat me, drink me? What is that? From The Exorcist? No, Alice in Wonderland! Alice she drank something to be big and ate something to be small.
User Review
Joe Dante Classic
Rating: 10/10
This 1987 film is a wonderful combination of sci-fi, comedy, romance
and thriller elements. It is briskly paced despite being almost two
hours in length, and features superb performances from the leads;
Dennis Quaid is excellent as usual, as is Meg Ryan in her best role.
Yet the plaudits must go to Martin Short in a truly great performance
he has never matched. He just needs the right role. The supporting cast
are great as well; the delightful villainy of Vernon Wells who is
unrecognisable as usual! Also Robert Picardo camping it up superbly as
The Cowboy, one of his most memorable creations, plus the great pairing
of Fiona Lewis and Kevin McCarthy, who memorably says to his dog before
feeding it: 'Never beg, never beg!' The cinematography and special
effects/makeup are all great as well, and Jerry Goldsmith's score is
brilliant, perfectly complementing the tone of the film, alternately
exciting/sprightly/romantic. Joe Dante binds it all together with
magnificent verve, plus Dick Miller makes his trademark appearance! A
great, timeless classic. Highly recommended.
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