CineBad!!!

Also known as “Hjälp, Jag Krympar!” (Help, I’m Shrinking!) in Sweden, this was one of my favorite movies when I was a kid, largely because, when Lily Tomlin gets tiny enough, she gets to live in the Barbie dream house and snuggle up with Ken.

We watch Lily become a victim of the industrial toxins found in the household products that her husband advertises, which cause her diminishing stature (get the picture?) Lily drops a few dress sizes, loses her wedding ring, and walks around in platform shoes that would make Baby Spice jealous, giving rise to many corny and preposterous sight gags. Then comes the aforementioned fling with Ken.

Lily tangles with some household appliances and escapes scientific scrutiny before the movie’s ironically twisty ending. Oh, and she also gets to play a staunchy feminist neighbor, who pickets for the rights of shrinking women everywhere. You’ll laugh at, as well as laugh with this movie, as you ask yourself the question: “Were special effects really that terrible in 1981?”