While it is geared towards a younger audience, Robert Rodriguez’s latest family film, Shorts, is quite enjoyable regardless of age.
Artwork by Rebecca Holt
In the movie industry, most know the name Robert Rodriguez because he has directed/produced many great action movies such as Sin City, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Grindhouse’s Planet Terror. However, not all of Rodriguez’s movies are action-packed with hardcore violence; some are still action-packed but with the “kid-friendly” violence seen in the Spy Kids series and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. While neither of those captured my interest due to their juvenile nature, his latest family film, Shorts, was actually enjoyable.
Unlike most movies that have different segments (Shorts does, calling them “episodes”), Shorts humorously begins with “Episode Zero.” While eating breakfast, a brother and sister decide to compete in a staring contest which was periodically used throughout the film as a humorous gag, showing the siblings competing even during school and while they sleep. After this memorable introduction, Toby “Toe” Thompson (Jimmy Bennett, Orphan), begins to narrate, recalling five stories (including his) about a magical rock that changed his entire town. However, finding it hard to remember the exact order, Toby’s stories that make up the movie, are told out of order (ex: “Episode 2” is really “Episode One”) which as creative as it is, might be hard for a younger audience to correctly follow.
Toby and his neighbors (whose stories make up the other chapters) live in the small community of Black Falls where everyone works for Mr. Carbon Black’s (James Spader, Boston Legal) company, Black Box Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated, which has constructed a device, the Black Box (which is made of smaller black boxes), that can re-construct itself to become any item you need (cell phone, computer, etc.). While it benefits most, the Black Box cannot provide what Toby wants, friends. When introduced to Mr. Black’s corporation, I could not help but think of Apple because their gadgets also seem to utilize any item you may need.
While running from the group of bullies (led by Mr. Carbon Black’s daughter: Helvetica, who eventually, has her own, catchy theme song), who harass him every day, Toby finds a rainbow-colored rock lying out in the open grass, which, once he picks it up, telepathically tells him to make a wish. Wishing for friends, Toby is astonished when it is not humans who come, but small flying saucers.
Although the next chapter is called, “Episode Two,” it really should be first, as it tells about the rainbow wishing rock’s origin. When Toby’s neighbors and classmates, the three Shorts brothers (hence the name of the movie): Loogie (Trevor Gagnon, The New Adventures of Old Christine), Laser (Leo Howard, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), and Lug (Rebel Rodriguez (Grindhouse’s Planet Terror), decide to explore outside their house in hopes of discovering treasure, they come across this magical rock. What starts out as Loogie’s wish for a fort, eventually results in many wishes, some of which involve alligators that walk upright (wish is ridiculously funny), their baby sister becoming a telepathic genius with philosophical wisdom, and Loogie with a telephone sticking out of his head. Once introduced to the Shorts brothers, I thought Loogie was hilarious because his wishes never seemed to turn out the way he expected.
The Shorts brothers soon lose the rock, thus Toby’s story, which results no differently. Finding out that Toby used the rock too, Loogie and Toby soon become friends and decide to search for the rock. However, the rock’s power has caused more chaos to characters including Toby’s parents (Leslie Mann, Funny People and Jon Crier, Two and a Half Men), his sister (Kat Dennings, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), his germaphobic neighbors, Nose Noseworthy and his father (William H. Macy, Wild Hogs), Helvetica, and Mr. Black who wants to use the rock to benefit himself and become even more powerful. As the wishing rock granted more wishes, I got to see more of Robert Rodriguez’s budget in special effects. While Shorts contains many special effects, I thought most of them were unique and worth the amount spent.
While the ending, delivering an appropriate moral on the importance of friends, I found to be somewhat of a letdown, Shorts was still very enjoyable. If one sees the poster and trailer, chances are they will think of the movie as “just another silly children’s fantasy,” as neither makes it look that great. However, Shorts delivers not only an original story that people of all ages will enjoy, it has other essential components as well. Much of the comedy, including the characters’ unique names, is actually funny and memorable. The star-studded cast was great, really giving excellent performances, and even the special effects were used wisely and not too overdone. After seeing Shorts, the kid inside me, and even the teenager outside, wanted a rainbow-colored wishing rock to fall from the sky. I know if that ever did happen, my first wish would be to live in the fictional world of Black Falls because not only do the characters (especially the kids) seem fun and full of personality, they prove you do not need technology to entertain yourself; all you need are good friends and a magical rock!
Rating: ★★★★☆
