MovieChat Forums > Innerspace (1987) Discussion > Why this was not as big as Back to the F...

Why this was not as big as Back to the Future?

posted 5 years ago by Heisenberg (6326)
25 replies | jump to latest

One is a classic, one is almost obscure.
I know Innerspace very well, but I also know that if you ask around non film buffs, they don't. I loved it as a kid, but 30 years later it seems it's left out in the darkness.
They are very similar movies, but one is ingrained in our collective memory, the other is not.

My take is that Innerspace is aimed at a younger demographics than BTTF, or a less refined one. That's its mistake.
It pushes the adventure aspect of it too much, too far away from science and into fantasy: face transformations; dream sequences that are real; a one armed snap tool henchman; escapes that don't make sense; coincidences that are unbelievable.
There were too many "come on?!?" moments in it for smart kids that had nothing to do with miniaturization. It's like the writers wanted to add any "cool" sci fi idea possible to make it a rollercoaster ride. I think they went overboard and audiences rejected it.

For instance, the whole movie takes place in 24 hours, and for no good reason two improvised double agents are able to locate the chip and retrieve it from weapons traffickers that quickly...come on!?!

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 4 years ago

I think it is a better film than Back to the Future. I like BTTF but I would never include it in my top 80s films, whereas InnerSpace I would find hard to keep off.

[–] Heisenberg (6326) 4 years ago

Really? You must be one of the few with this reverse opinion. Why do you think this is better?
I feel the second half of the script is rushed, and the whole adventure has too many coincidences to be taken seriously. Some polishing would have made it a classic.

[–] rateater (9241) 4 years ago

people would rather time travel than get shrunk and put into someone's body

[–] Heisenberg (6326) 4 years ago

I guess that's the key element here, bingo!

[–] moviechatterer (13340) 4 years ago

easy:
It's the Power of Love

[–] liscarkat (16552) 3 years ago

"Innerspace" is better than "Fantastic Voyage".

[–] Heisenberg (6326) 3 years ago

We agree on that.

Hey liscarkat, I was just reading your post about Meg Ryan on the Wendy thread.
She's not sexy nor a sex symbol in my book either, but here and in Top Gun she was cute and hot as a spunky girlfriend type of girl (not a sex bomb), come on don't deny that.

I think here she's at her hottest ever, and should have never tried to stretch it any more than this cute girlfriend.