It is not a film with many pretensions, Help, I shrunk my Parents. Not even as far as the various script twists are concerned. The story unfolds in an often predictable way, albeit with good dynamics, and the young audience seems to be happy with it.
Help, I shrunk my Teacher is a film of international scope that is clearly inspired by contemporary US entertainment cinema and also aims very much at an extensive distribution abroad. Yet, despite this, we cannot fail to notice an almost television-like approach that, together with sometimes excessively contrived special effects, makes the whole thing easily forgettable.
Help, I Shrunk My Friends is clearly inspired by the now cult film Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. But if those nostalgic for that film – as well as for the glorious 1980s – are hoping to re-experience the same feelings they felt when watching Joe Johnston’s film, their expectations will inevitably be disappointed.
Lilly the Witch: The Dragon and the Magic Book – directed by Oscar-winner Stefan Ruzowitzky, as well as the film adaptation of the famous homonymous short story written by Knister – despite its linear development and its good and dynamic direction, is not as incisive as previous similar works.