INNERSPACE (1987)

4 stars

Arrow Video. Limited Edition UHD and Limited Edition Blu ray. 27th April

Dennis Quaid plays Lt. Tuck Pendleton, a hot shot test pilot with a bad attitude. He joins a top secret mission and is placed into a submarine like pod to be shrunk down to minuscule size and injected into a rabbit. But when the laboratory is attacked by rivals that want to steal the tech, head scientist Ozzie Wexler (John Hora) manages to escape with the syringe containing the tiny vessel. As an aside Hora was cast after a suggestion from Steven Spielberg – he was actually a cinematographer by trade, and had worked on several of director Joe Dante’s films.

On the run and being chased by the Terminator-like Mr Igoe (Vernon Wells), Ozzie ends up injecting Pendleton and the mini sub into neurotic, hypochondriac supermarket worker Jack Putter (a perfectly cast, manic Martin Short, an actor never known for underplaying his part). It isn’t till later that our pilot realises he is not inside a bunny but a human after trying to contact the lab. Connecting up to the optic nerve he can see what Jack is seeing and also manages to talk to him via his inner ear.

With limited oxygen, Tuck must find a way to get out – his only option is to get Jack to help him and also to bring Tuck’s reporter ex-girlfriend Lydia (Meg Ryan) up to speed as she has had dealings with “the Cowboy” (Robert Picardo – who was a Dante regular) who has connections with arms dealer Victor Scrimshaw (Kevin McCarthy), the one behind the lab attack.

Incident piles on incident as the plot gets more convoluted as it unfolds – however, Dante has crafted a fun and enjoyable variation on FANTASTIC VOYAGE that leans into the comedic possibilities. This is part comedy, part action thriller, rom com, science fiction and ultimately a buddy movie. Quaid and Short play off each other well – Dante had them be on set for each other’s scenes, despite them not actually meeting in the film itself, which gives a credibility to their interactions.

Being a Dante film this of course has cameo appearances – from Dick Miller early on as a cab driver, to Rance Howard (Ron’s dad) and Chuck Jones, legendary animator. The director himself even pops up in a blink and you’ll miss him scene in the laboratory.

The release features a brand new restoration from the 35mm negative which was approved by the director.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS

Two audio commentaries: a new one by film critic Drew McWeeny; an archive one with director Joe Dante, producer Michael Finnell, visual effects supervisor Dennis Muren and actors Kevin McCarthy and Robert Picardo

The Making of Innerspace, a brand new hour-long documentary

Behind the Scenes with Joe Dante and Behind the Scenes at ILM, both with previously unseen footage

Original storyboards; Continuity and Behind the Scenes Polaroids; Production stills gallery; Posters and Promo stills gallery; Theatrical trailer

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Doug John Miller; Double-sided fold-out poster featuring two original artwork options; Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet.