Shorts

With a story divided up into sections, swapped around and then presented as a series of short films, it’s fair to say that Shorts is a little quirky.

The action unfolds in the town of Black Falls, a bleak vision of suburbia where the inhabitants are at the beck and call of the town’s slavish employer, Mr Black (played by James Spader). Toby Thompson is a gawky schoolboy with troublesome braces and a dramatic side parting who faces the daily taunts of Helvetica Black, who shares her father’s bullying nature. Things suddenly seem to be looking up for Toby when a special wishing rock falls into his lap. After all, what child hasn’t dreamed of having an unlimited supply of wishes at his disposal?

As it turns out, Toby’s first wish lands him in hospital and the precious rock slips out of his hands, creating chaos when one luckless boy unwittingly wishes a gigantic bogey monster into existence. 

Shorts doesn’t quite live up to director Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids trilogy, but it’s off-the-wall style and touches of grossness are bound to hit the mark with its young audience.

Cert, PG. £15.99 (DVD), £22.99 (BLU-RAY). For further details, visit http://shortsmovie.warnerbros.com