director: Robert Rodriguez
writer: Robert Rodriguez
starring: Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings, Trevor Gagnon, Jon Cryer, Devon Gearheart
genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
Could you love your kids so much that you would lower your humor and your intelligence level to make a film for them? I wouldn't but Robert Rodriguez just couldn't help himself. Not once but now over 5 times. Three Spy Kids films and then Shark Boy and Lava Girl and now with Shorts. With his latest family film Rodriguez outdoes himself by making a terribly silly film that would make me feel ashamed if my father had made it.
As the film is called Shorts it contains short stories that all are interconnected. It all takes place in a small community surrounded by the evil company of Mr. Black (James Spader). The bigger part of this suburban community is employed by Mr. Black's company. His company has developed a gadget that is everything in one. From mp3 player to toaster. The kids of these employees have gotten there hands on magic stones that grant you wishes. With these magic stones the children will have the time of their lives but also the responsibly of the stones. They will have to protect there parents from Mr.Black and his ideas of getting his hands on the magic stones and ruining the planet.
So what's wrong with this film and most kids films in general? It's that they feel as if they were made by kids themselves. We all know the humor level of a child and he or she may think is funny. The gags and jokes the film employees are all below average humor and only can make a adult cringe. Starring games, bully fights, feet gags to name a few. Also in a child's mind everything's funny because of the fact that anything is possible in their mind.
The best family films are the ones with actual stories, real emotions and that touches not only children but adults and undoubtedly to have funny material. Isn't it obvious why Pixar or Disney films are classics? Because not only kids love them but also adults. It's because those films chose not to lower themselves to a child's mental level but bring a child to theirs.
But it's not only the material itself but also the way Rodriguez directs the film and the young actor's performances.Rodriguez uses a lot of quick cam motions,ecstatic kid performances, insane ridiculous gags and very unfunny events that don't add up to anything in the end for anyone who is above the age of 10. This film is something you would find suitable in child programming in U.S. channels like Nickelodeon. Not a full long feature film by one our generations coolest filmmakers.
It's incredible how we all know of Robert Rodriguez and his exploitation films but not of his family films. The man is a expectational filmmaker but in my opinion should stick to adult filmmaking. Kids under 10 years old will no doubt enjoy this film and find the humor suitable. Everybody else will probably want to think twice about what there getting into.
The best family films are the ones with actual stories, real emotions and that touches not only children but adults and undoubtedly to have funny material. Isn't it obvious why Pixar or Disney films are classics? Because not only kids love them but also adults. It's because those films chose not to lower themselves to a child's mental level but bring a child to theirs.
But it's not only the material itself but also the way Rodriguez directs the film and the young actor's performances.Rodriguez uses a lot of quick cam motions,ecstatic kid performances, insane ridiculous gags and very unfunny events that don't add up to anything in the end for anyone who is above the age of 10. This film is something you would find suitable in child programming in U.S. channels like Nickelodeon. Not a full long feature film by one our generations coolest filmmakers.
It's incredible how we all know of Robert Rodriguez and his exploitation films but not of his family films. The man is a expectational filmmaker but in my opinion should stick to adult filmmaking. Kids under 10 years old will no doubt enjoy this film and find the humor suitable. Everybody else will probably want to think twice about what there getting into.
Personal Rating:
Review by Paul
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