Shorts (2009) (2pc) (W/Dvd) (Mcsh Ws Digc) [Blu-ray]A fantastical story, relayed in the form of short vignettes by director Robert Rodriguez, Shorts is the story of a magic wishing rock and kids’ imaginations gone wild. The film plays a lot like the The Little Rascals (Our Gang) films from the 1920′s-1940′s: it’s made up of short, comical episodes that focus on kids adventures and how imagination drives their play. When a magical rainbow rock falls from the sky and lands in the middle of tech-town Black Falls, a young boy Toe (Jimmy Bennett) discovers that the rock has the power to grant his every wish. The victim of constant bullying, Toe wishes for friends as unusual as himself and ends up with a posse of aliens who protect him while seriously complicating his life. As narrator, Toby quickly stops the film, explaining that his experience is really the middle of the story, and then rewinds repeatedly to relate various encounters between neighborhood kids and the magic rock. Each short is its own journey into a kid’s imagination where wishes for everything from a treasure hunt, to a fortress guarded by crocodiles, a super smart baby with telepathic powers, and a booger monster grown from one boy’s booger are immediately granted. These fantastical wishes wreak havoc on the entire Black Falls community: the children, the technology obsessed, disconnected Black Box employees, and the tyrannical Black Box boss Mr. Black (James Spader). In the end, the magic rock is a catalyst for change, encouraging kids and adults to work together and inspiring serious reflection regarding one’s wishes, dreams, and goals. Rodriguez does a great job of portraying the wildness of kids’ imaginations and viewers that delight in over-the-top ridiculousness and the overtly gross will laugh hysterically throughout the film. Unfortunately, those who demand restraint may find it overdone. (Ages 10 and older) –Tami Horiuchi
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(out of 20 reviews)
Review by Pumpkin Man for Shorts (2009) (2pc) (W/Dvd) (Mcsh Ws Digc) [Blu-ray]
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I thought this was a really good and very funny movie that the whole family will love! It has an awesome plot, funny situations, and lovable characters. The movie is told out of order in a series of ‘short’ episodes! In the town of Black Falls, all the adults work for Black Box Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated. Toby Thompson is a lonely kid who gets picked on gets picked on by Mr. Black’s kids, until Toby finds a Rainbow colored wishing rock that will grant his every wish. Toby is just one of the many kids who have found the rock, like Nose Noseworthy, Loogie, Cole, and Helvetica Black. When Mr. Black gets ahold of the rock, he uses it for world domination. Can the kids of Black Falls stop him before he becomes mad with power? I highly recommend SHORTS!!!
Review by Mommy Claps for Shorts (2009) (2pc) (W/Dvd) (Mcsh Ws Digc) [Blu-ray]
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Hilarious! A good movie for the whole family. Our kids loved it. Their favorite part has to be the booger monster.
Review by litgirl for Shorts (2009) (2pc) (W/Dvd) (Mcsh Ws Digc) [Blu-ray]
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This movie had my 8 year old just cracking up. It was the best in years that we’ve had for parental enjoyment of a kids’ film. I don’t know how I can make these filmmakers enough. So clever, off-the-wall, hilarious, and timeless (i.e. full of the screwed-up nostalgia we all remember from being kids ourselves).
Review by Shilom for Shorts (2009) (2pc) (W/Dvd) (Mcsh Ws Digc) [Blu-ray]
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This movie is basically a ton of short stories that intertwine with the characters. A rainbow wishing rock is found and the movie follows each character as they get what they wish for. Hilarious! My 4 and 11 year olds both enjoyed this as did I, and they’ve rewatched it several times.
Review by M. J. Sanford for Shorts (2009) (2pc) (W/Dvd) (Mcsh Ws Digc) [Blu-ray]
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A fun kid flick from the SPY KIDS (et al) director. It’s silly, goofy, fast-paced, visually bizarre, well-acted, and fun. It’s as good as any kid flick out there, and better than lots (WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE? yuch.), but not in the same league as TOY STORY and their ilk.
I don’t know why so many people over-criticize this movie. It ain’t Fellini- it’s a kids movie. It’s *supposed* to be non-linear.
Lighten up. Enjoy it for what it is.