HONEY, I BLEW UP THE KID

   Film (1992). Walt Disney. Exec prods Albert Band, Stuart Gordon; dir Randal Kleiser; screenplay Thom Eberhardt, Peter Elbling, Garry Goodrow,based on a story by Goodrow, based on characters created by Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Ed NAHA; starring Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri, Daniel and Joshua Shalikar, Lloyd Bridges, John Shea, Keri Russell. 89 mins. Colour.

   The sequel to the good and successful HONEY, I SHRUNK THE KIDS (1989), this has the same family, headed by nutty inventor Wayne Szalinski (Moranis) in more trouble. Or the same trouble reversed. Two-year old son Adam (played with some charm by the Shalikar twins) is accidentally subjected to a growth ray; he grows first to seven feet, then to 14 feet,then to 50 feet. Soon he has a tantrum, and is on his way to trample Las Vegas. Depressingly formulaic and one-note, though with several funny moments, the film has nothing like the metaphoric and psychological resonance of its predecessor, and its larger budget seems to have persuaded all concerned to be too careful, notably Moranis, who tones down the madness as if he expects to be taken as a role model for good fatherhood. It is a case of small is beautiful rather than bigger is better. The film, perhaps grudgingly, gives a credit-buried in the end titles-to Kit REED, whose "Attack of the Giant Baby" (1976 FSF) could be said to have got there first.

   PN