4K Ultra HD Review – Innerspace (1987)

      Innerspace, 1987.

      Directed by Joe Dante.

      Featuring Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, and Kevin McCarthy.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Arrow Video consistently impresses with their releases, and their latest edition of Innerspace includes a fantastic 4K restoration, two new bonus features, and a physical booklet with several essays. While this film may not be deemed worthy of the Criterion Collection, it's enjoyable to see Arrow give it a Criterion-style treatment that resonates with many of us who have fond memories of it.

      Is it a minor classic? I’d say yes, but that’s largely due to my background as a Gen Xer who cherished the golden age of these types of films in the 70s and 80s. There was a charming silliness and earnestness to films like this one, particularly with special effects that seem quite low-tech by current standards.

      Directed by Joe Dante, Innerspace pays tribute (or perhaps more fittingly, a bow) to the true classic of 1966, Fantastic Voyage. It stars Dennis Quaid as Tuck Pendleton, a daring pilot with a great name, who volunteers for a secret miniaturization project that involves placing him in a submersible pod, shrinking them, and injecting the pod into a rabbit.

      However, when a competing corporation breaks into the lab to steal the technology, a series of events leads to Safeway grocery clerk Jack Putter (another clever name), portrayed by Martin Short, becoming the host for Tuck and his pod. A crucial element is the limited oxygen supply in the pod, as well as a MacGuffin in the form of a computer chip necessary for restoring Tuck and the pod to their original size, which was taken during the heist.

      Jack and Tuck manage to establish communication, resulting in numerous scenes that allow Short and Quaid to shine in their respective strengths: goofy physical comedy and tough-guy demeanor. Meg Ryan plays Tuck’s estranged girlfriend, Lydia Maxwell; she's a reporter linked to one of the villain's henchmen and provides valuable assistance during their adventure.

      Innerspace might not be as enjoyable as, say, Back to the Future, but it has its own merits and is always a reliable choice for some nostalgic film-watching. Arrow Video has done an excellent job here, commissioning a 4K restoration that looks impressive and including a physical booklet with essays from critics Charlie Brigden, Michael Doyle, Josh Nelson, Jessica Scott, and Andrea Subissati, a guide to Dante’s stock company, and the original exhibitors pamphlet.

      As for extras, Arrow also included a new commentary track by film critic Drew McWeeny, who came well-prepared with ample research, plus a remarkable retrospective documentary titled Shrinkage: The Making of Innerspace, which runs nearly an hour. This documentary features Dante, visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren, visual effects artists Bill George and Harley Jessup, among others, reflecting on the film.

      Archival bonus features start with a 2002 cast and crew commentary that offers plenty of interesting insights, including thoughts on the relationship between Dante and producer Steven Spielberg. There's also just under 44 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage split across two featurettes—one from Dante’s own on-set recordings and the other captured by Muren, who led the Oscar-winning team for this film.

      Finally, the collection includes a storyboard gallery, a selection of behind-the-scenes images from Dante’s personal archive, production stills, a poster gallery, and the theatrical trailer to complete the package.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Brad Cook