Shorts
By Marshall Fine
Rating:
Who’s in it: William H. Macy, Kat Dennings, James Spader
What’s it about: A small town goes crazy when a boy discovers a rainbow-colored wishing rock and everyone wants a chance at it.
Rocky results: The story jumps around, following the rock as different kids and adults get a hold of it and misuse its powers. But people are too careless with their requests, so none of the wishes turns out the way the wishee wants. This was written and directed by Robert Rodriguez and it aims at the same low level of humor as his “Spy Kids” films. Everything is played in broad slapstick and gross-out terms, with jokes about boogers, vomit and falling in mud. The visual effects are imaginative – flying alligators, giant robots and telepathic genius babies. But there just aren’t many laughs for anyone whose age is in double digits.
Long story short: You’ll wish this movie was a lot funnier.
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