Honey, I Shrunk the Entertainment
Written: Jan 14 '05 (Updated Feb 06 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Not scary, one unique special effect, indoors
Cons: Movie was not entertaining
The Bottom Line: A boring 3D movie with only one interesting effect. See the movies in California Adventure next door instead of this one.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Honey I Shrunk the Audience - Disneyland |
We really like the Disney 3D movies and had not checked this one out on prior visits but, on our last visit, the lines were so short we had time to check out attractions not normally on our list. We had already seen Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision and It’s Tough to be a Bug at Disney's California Adventure so we were excited to see this 3D movie. As it turns out, we were pretty disappointed.
THE WAIT
This ride is located in Futureland so, of course, the Futureland style dominates the outside waiting area. In this case, it means a cement floor and some B-movie 50s-era styling. At the main gate for the attraction, we collected our 3D glasses. After that, the cast member directed us down a cement ramp to the waiting area. For the most part, the waiting area was a giant outdoor room with a cement floor. There was little theming and very little to look at. Also, since we were now a level below ground, we couldn't even look out at the area around us.
The movie lasts about fifteen minutes or so, so unless you arrive near the end of the prior movie, you are going to have to wait a bit before your turn comes along.
GETTING A GOOD SEAT
Really, most of the seats are good and the theater is slanted so you can see pretty well over the people in front of you. As you enter the waiting area, the door closest to you will open for the back of the theater. If you want to be near the front, head down to the far end of the waiting area. Also, the first people through the doors will be strongly encouraged to move to the far end of the aisles and will end up on the edge of the theater. So, you want to sit in the middle of a row, make sure you enter the theater in the middle of the crowd.
THE MOVIE (contains lots of spoilers)
After you enter the theater, there is a real, live person at a podium to the left of the screen. He is wearing glasses and acting nerdy. He gives the general information on watching the movie including no flash photography and how to exit the theater if you need to leave while the show is on. In keeping with the scientific theme, the cast member tells you to put on your "protective goggles," which are the 3D glasses. Then the movie itself starts.
The premise of the movie is that you are in the audience of an awards presentation. The Imagination Institute is going to give the Inventor of the Year award to a scientist (Rick Moranis) who is a little off-task (as my daughter would say). There are some basic 3D tricks and you see the shrunken scientist float just before you eyes in his hovercraft. Soon thereafter, he crashes. He son steps up to demonstrate the big scientic invention. In the process, the boy actually shrinks the audience. This effect is demonstrated by making the people on the movie screen much larger so you feel proportionally smaller. The cooler effect is that the entire theater shakes whenever one of the large people on the movie takes a step.
The movie has a few sort of comic moments, for example, a toddler picks up the audience and moves the theater they are sitting in. From the audience perspective, it sort of feels like you are in shoebox being moved around. The effect is subtle and not as effective as, say, a motion simulator. The shaking is really the only impressive part of the show.
The movie plot is really thin and basically exists to further the 3D effects. The total plot is: announcing the awards show, scientist goes missing, son has accident with invention, dad shows up to save the day and correct the accident thus resizing the audience.
To add to the "blah" factor: the actors stay on the same set in the same room for the whole movie and there is little in the way of special effects. Unlike other Disney 3D movies, the theater itself doesn't really contain any surprises or even any interesting features. Overall, except for the occasional shaking, I would say the experience was pretty boring.
AGE APPROPRIATENESS
I took my five year old and eight year old to see this movie and both were bored. There was a snake scene and some mice ran around but these effects were not scary to my kids. The most positive thing I can say is that the movie generally isn't scary and is appropriate for everyone except maybe timid preschoolers.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
Ugh, this movie was boring. The waiting area is boring. The theater was boring. The cast member introducing the movie was cliche and boring. I can't recommend this at all considering how much better the other Disney 3D movies are. Skip this attraction.
MY REVIEWS OF THE DISNEY THEME PARKS IN CALIFORNIA
Disney's California Adventure
Disneyland
MY REVIEW OF THEME PARK HOTELS IN CALIFORNIA
Disney’s Grand Californian
MY REVIEW OF THEME PARK RESTAURANTS
Storyteller’s Cafe
Blue Bayou
MY REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS IN DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Soarin’ Over California
Grizzly River Run
The Sun Wheel
Orange Stinger
Mulholland Madness
Jumpin’ Jellyfish
Playhouse Disney Live on Stage
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D
It’s Tough to be a Bug 3D
Princess Dot Puddle Park
Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train
Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies
Flik’s Flyers
Francis’ Ladybug Boogie
Misson Tortilla Factory Tour
Boudin Bakery Factory Tour
MY REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS IN DISNEYLAND
Pirates of the Caribbean
Indiana Jones Adventure
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Peter Pan’s Flight
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Alice in Wonderland
Matterhorn Bobsleds
It’s a Small World
Tarzan’s Tree House
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Autotopia
MY REVIEWS OF OTHER THINGS TO SEE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Legoland
SeaWorld San Diego
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Wild Animal Park
Balboa Park
The Museum of Making Music
Recommended:
No
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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modernmarvel
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