INNERSPACE

US, 1987, 120 minutes, Colour.
Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin Mc Carthy, Fiona Lewis.
Directed by Joe Dante.

Innerspace is an '80s reworking of the 1960s Fantastic Voyage, where human beings are miniaturised and go into a human being. However, this film is played for adventure and laughs. Denis Quaid is the nonchalant navy hero who is miniaturised. Martin Short, one of the Three Amigos, is the unwitting supermarket-assistant who is injected with Quaid. There is an amusing supporting cast led by Kevin Mc Carthy, Fiona Lewis and Vernon Wells as villains. Meg Ryan is the heroine.

The film is designed as entertainment - and even though quite implausible, because of the playing of the cast, has that edge for the audience. There is a song by Rod Stewart, 'Twisting the Night Away' - which is a popular insert rather than-part of the plot.

The production is by Steven Spielberg and direction is by Joe Dante (Piranha, The Howling, Twilight Zone the Movie, Gremlins, The Explorers).

1. Enjoyable modern-science fiction? Comic adventures? Pop entertainment?

2. The interests of Steven Spielberg and fantasy? The work of Joe Dante - the touch of horror, the touch of comedy? The background of Fantastic Voyage in the '60s?

3. California, San Francisco and its environment? Contemporary atmosphere? Silicone Valley? The use of special effects? Musical score? Insertion of the songs?

4. The introduction to Tuck and Jack - and comparison of the two men? Tuck and American types, the navy and the graduation, drunk, comic, fighting? Love for Lydia? The night with her? The morning - and the towel disappearing in the street? His reputation, being chosen for the particular job? The contrast with Jack and his hypochondria, visits to the doctor, stress -the nightmare about the redheaded person at the supermarket, his work at the supermarket, anxiety?

5. Silicone Valley, experiments and miniaturisation? The aims? The scientists and their skills, apparatus, the miniaturising of Tuck? The attack by Margaret? Ozzie and his being pursued, the dramatic chase, injecting Jack, his death? Mr Igoe and his attack, the plan?

6. Martin Short as Jack: stress, nightmare come true, the woman with the red hair and the exorbitant account, the doctor and his propriety with Jack? Jack going to the doctor, hearing the voices, talking to Tuck, accepting him? Handling the holiday courier who was a criminal? His drinking the whisky, singing the Twisting song? Finding Lydia, talking to her, persuading her? Igoe's attack? His being caught, in the refrigerated vehicle with Mr Scrimshaw, the escape and his swinging on the truck? Igoe injected into him, the clash? The encounter with Cowboy and his changing into Cowboy's appearance, behaving like him, returning? The kiss to Lydia and Tuck going into her system? The grand finale and everything right again? The deadlines and time? The wedding, giving up his job, not going with Wendy anymore (after seeing her at the disco), his decision to be a hero and help Tuck? Plausible character? Martin Short's comic style?

7. Denis Quaid as Tuck: navy, drunk, Lydia, comic style and cynical, the experiments, miniaturisation, his experience, the shock, driving through the human being, the eye and the ear contact, seeing, communicating and talking, guiding Jack as to what he should do, the relationship with Lydia, the confrontation with Igoe, coming back to normal, the happy ending?

8. Igoe and his killing Ozzie, his being the strong man, the pursuit of Tuck, miniaturised, the confrontation and his death? Margaret and her menace, sexuality? Scrimshaw and his ambitions, the boss, the refrigerated truck, the pursuit? The miniaturisation of Margaret and Scrimshaw - in the car, the satire on the criminals miniaturised?

9. Lydia as an attractive heroine, journalist, separating from Tuck, the encounter with Jack, going into action, with the Cowboy, driving the car, the split-second timing at the end, the happy winning?

10. Cowboy and espionage, smooth style, being beaten by Jack, the irony of his being the chauffeur at the end?

11. Minor characters and comic styles - the redheaded woman in the supermarket, Henry Gibson as the supermarket manager, Wendy and her attitude towards Jack, at the disco? Lydia's editor and his exasperation?

12. Comic touches and timing? themes of the human body, canals, Science fiction themes?

13. Special effects - especially for the interior fatty cells, the heart, the eye and the ear?