7.2 | / 10 |
| Users | 0.0 | |
| Reviewer | 4.5 | |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Test pilot Tuck Pendleton volunteers to test a special vessel for a miniaturization experiment. Accidentally injected into a neurotic hypochondriac, Jack Putter, Tuck must convince Jack to find his ex-girlfriend, Lydia Maxwell, to help him extract Tuck and his ship and re-enlarge them before his oxygen runs out.
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, Fiona Lewis| Comedy | Uncertain |
| Sci-Fi | Uncertain |
| Adventure | Uncertain |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 4.1
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
4K Ultra HD
Region A (B, C untested)
| Movie | 4.5 | |
| Video | 0.0 | |
| Audio | 5.0 | |
| Extras | 4.5 | |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Baby Boomers or those with an interest in vintage comedy may recall the April 1967 issue of Mad which contained one of their iconic film parodies, in this case the typically insouciantly (re)titled Fantastecch Voyage. Larry Siegel's wonderfully snarky writing and Mort Drucker's inimitable skill at capturing caricatures of famous actors helped to make this an especially funny "version" of a then hit film, but more or less exactly two decades later, Innerspace "revisited" Fantastic Voyage, offering one of the most wonderfully inventive and laugh out loud comedy films of its general era. Arrow is now offering the film in standalone 1080 and 4K UHD editions, with their usual assortment of appealing extras and handsome packaging.


Note: While this is a standalone 4K release without a 1080 disc, I am offering screenshots from Arrow's standalone 1080 release of
Innerspace as I think it actually provides a better
representation of the look of the palette in particular, rather than offering screenshots from the 4K disc which are by necessity downscaled to 1080
and in SDR. Because this release does not include a 1080 disc, the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.
Innerspace is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet offers
the
following
information about the transfer:
Innerspace has been restored by Arrow Films and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with newly restored original lossless 2.0 stereo, original 70mm 6-track mix in DTS-HD Master Audio 4.1 surround, and newly remixed Dolby Atmos audio options. The film is presented in 4K resolution in HDR and Dolby Vision.Michael was pretty enthusiastic about the now fairly old Warner Brothers 1080 release, but a cursory comparison of screenshots here and in my review of Arrow's 1080 edition (I've tried to come close to duplicating some of Michael's screenshots) show clear improvements in this new Arrow edition. This is another generally great looking 4K presentation from Arrow, one which at least in the palette department is probably even more impressive here courtesy of the HDR / Dolby Vision grades than in Arrow's 1080 release, but which may also offer a less subliminal accounting of an intermittently pretty thick grain field. The palette is observably more suffused and to my eyes a touch warmer looking, and while perhaps not as consistently noticeable due to the surplus of old school composited effects, fine detail can also see improvements, albeit typically in non VFX sequences where things like textures on sets or fabrics on costumes can have better precision than on the old Warner effort. A lot of the "interior" (i.e., pod in the body) material is rather dark and compositing probably doesn't help things, but I'd still argue that details are a bit better than on the old Warner disc, including some of the compositing that actually (briefly) can show Tuck behind the pod's windshield in wider framings. The HDR grades can also add at least a bit more shadow detail in some of the darkest moments, and some of the evocative lighting / grading choices "inside the body" are very impressive in this 4K version, especially with regard to blues and reds. The opening credits sequence looks a bit brown and mottled, but things improve dramatically once the party scene has ended. Grain can still admittedly be fairly variable, again due in part to the VFX, and can arguably look a bit chunkier at times at this resolution than in Arrow's 1080 version.
The original 35mm camera negative was scanned at 4K / 16 bit resolution at Warner Brothers Motion Picture Imaging. The film was restored in 4K resolution and color graded at Duplitech.
The Dolby Atmos mix was completed by Deluxe Audio Services, London. Audio restoration on the stereo mix was completed by Bad Princess Productions.
All material sourced for this new mater were made available by Warner Brothers. QC review was completed by Pixelogic.The new restoration and Dolby Atmos mix were approved by Director Joe Dante.

Innerspace features Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 4.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 options (see the above verbiage from Arrow's insert booklet for a few more details). The two surround tracks show clear widening of the soundstage from the get go, with the "high tech" sound effects which open the film, but really, much like Warner's old 1080 disc (which had only a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track as its lossless surround offering), the best surround activity typically takes place in the pod sequences, where everything from "bodily function" noises to the clamor of the pod itself can ricochet around the sound field quite impressively. Even "normally" situated scenes like the opening chaos or some later equally frenetic outdoor material once the chase starts offers really good and consistent engagement of the surround channels. Jerry Goldsmith's score is also energetic and nicely spacious. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

- Cast & Crew Commentary (2002)
- Commentary by Drew McWeeny (2026)

Martin Short has some annoying performance traits and tendencies toward tic filled characterizations, but he's pitch perfect in this film and is surrounded by an absolutely stellar array of both marquee co-stars and a whole host of familiar faces from both movies and television, but it's the often hilarious writing and great physical comedy that really elevates Innerspace. Technical merits are solid and as usual Arrow has aggregated appealing supplements and some nice swag. Highly recommended.