Shorts on Blu-Ray

Robert Rodriguez’s visual assault or Shorts, as it is more commonly known, is out on Blu-Ray. If you have not seen the movie, here is a short (no pun intended) synopsis.

The suburban neighborhood of Black Falls is home to the irksome 11-year old Toe Thompson and Black Box Industries. The plot is crammed with mini-aliens, maxi-crocodiles, and a size changing James Spader. The story centers around The Black Box, the sole product of the aforementioned Black Box Industries. The multipurpose gadget resembling a Rubik’s cube can be anything to anyone. From a cheese grater to a solar panel it attempts to be a wishing rock to its holder and bounces around from one character to another granting computer generated fantasies and creating general mayhem. In the attempt to have at least one moral lesson, the story ends up with three: Parents should give more attention to children than work; Talking is healthier than texting; and Be careful what you wish for.

Considering that Robert Rodriguez wrote, directed, edited, produced, photographed, composed some of the music, and supervised the visual effects, it is a great effort on the man’s part. But perhaps as a result the movie feels underwritten and overdressed. The fact that it is also structured as five short stories that Toe narrated, it zips forward, pulls back, pauses, and jumps around in an insane manner does not go in its favor, either.

However, kids are likely to find the movie funny, and if they last the journey adults will find the absurdity palatable as well. The one thing you will hope for after the movie is that it will not have a sequel.