[7]
In this comedic sci-fi action/adventure from director Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Howling), Dennis Quaid plays a disgraced pilot who volunteers to get miniaturized and injected into the body of a rabbit to advance scientific research. But when bad guys wanting to steal the technology interrupt the procedure, the microscopic Quaid ends up getting injected into co-star Martin Short (Three Amigos, Mars Attacks!) instead. Short, as a neurotic hypochondriac, panics when he first feels the effects of Quaid trying to communicate with him, but once he realizes Quaid needs his help, they team up with Quaid’s reporter girlfriend (pre-stardom Meg Ryan) to evade the bad guys and get Short back to the lab before Quaid’s air supply runs out.
Innerspace is an ambitious film that works far better than it probably should. The plot gets a little over-complicated in the final hour, but the screenplay by Jeffrey Boam (The Lost Boys, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) gives priority to its warm and funny main characters, played superbly by Quaid, Short, and Ryan. The emotional core of the story is Quaid and Short’s strange, forced camaraderie. Quaid encourages Short to be more brave and confident, and Short teaches Quaid to be more sensitive and responsible, at least in his relationship with Ryan. Dante goes a little overboard with a few comic moments that veer into Looney Tunes territory, but gives the cast plenty of room to shine and maintains momentum throughout. A terrific Jerry Goldsmith score and Oscar-winning visual effects further distinguish this fun flick.
With a bevy of Joe Dante regulars in supporting roles and cameos, including Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers) as the main villain and Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) as a strange cowboy character. Henry Gibson, Dick Miller, Fiona Lewis, Vernon Wells, and Wendy Schall also appear.
Academy Award: Best Visual Effects (Industrial Light and Magic)