Innerspace (1987)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers:

Chip Proser (story)
Jeffrey Boam (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 July 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

This summer take a trip you'll never forget.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Midget | X Rayed Skeleton | Medical | Miniaturization | Stun Gun

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 nominations

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

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:11 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The computers in the lab display Apple 2 assembly language listing from the ROM monitor.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the car chase with the little people, the car at one point is heading towards a concessions stand by the beach. Jack yanks the wheel and they perform a screeching right turn. In the next shot out of the front window, they are still heading toward the concessions stand.

Quotes:

Dr. Greenbush: Nice wedding. You know, Jack, next week, I'd like you to swing by the office. I have some new tests I'd like to run on you...
Wendy: Jack, I think we should try dating. Maybe not exclusively at first, at least for me, but...
Mr. Wormwood: Jack, since you're not going on the cruise, I sure could use you at the store on Monday
Jack Putter: [ignoring all of them, realization dawns on him] That was the Cowboy.
[runs away]
Lydia's Editor: Who's the Cowboy?
Dr. Niles: It's um... classified.
Jack Putter: [stops and turns around - to Doctor Greenbush] Doc, I'm cured!
Jack Putter: [to Wendy] Wendy, not a chance!
Jack Putter: [to Mr. Wormwood] And Mr. Wormwood, thank you! And I quit.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2007-03-03)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

CUPID

Don't shrink this movie's prominence.

Joe Dante may be the zaniest director out there, along with Tim Burton. "Matinee" is my favorite of his movies, but "Innerspace" is certainly also up there. For the for couple of minutes, I couldn't figure out what was going on, but suddenly, the plot became clear. Lt. Tuck Pendleton (Dennis Quaid) is shrunk down to the size of a dust speck to be injected into an animal - a la "Fantastic Voyage". But then, a terrorist group seizes the lab and one of the scientists carries the hypodermic out. With his last bit of strength, he injects Tuck into local dweeb Jack Putter (Martin Short) - without informing Jack of this. From there, some very embarrassing predicaments arise for the two men, not the least of which is how to explain the situation to explain to Tuck's hubby Lydia Maxwell (Meg Ryan).

Throughout, "Innerspace" has Dante's quirky mark all over it. Dante of course gives a role to Dick Miller: in this case, Miller plays a cab driver. Dante regulars Kevin McCarthy and Robert Picardo also star, the former as villain Victor Scrimshaw, the latter as Scrimshaw's associate Cowboy. With some crazy lines, this movie is pure fun for everyone.