Writer: Lai Swee Wei

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Watch this if you liked: "Spy Kids" trilogy, "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D"

From filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, creator of the "Spy Kids" trilogy and "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D," comes a terrible family adventure "Shorts."

The plot is simple - A group of kids discovers a magical rainbow-coloured rock that can grant unlimited wishes to whoever holds it. It's truly what every kid who's watching this would want to have, and of course, slap in a few power hungry adults in and a whole lot of imagination, then voila, a movie is born.

Rodriguez knows how to make a nonsensical kids film that is weird, wacky and colourful. The story is told through a series of interwoven not-so-tall tales that each brings to life the often terrible and totally out-of-control wishes that become far more than eleven-year old Toe Thompson and his neighbours ever imagined. The crazy wishes ranges from tiny aliens to giant boogers and pretty much delivers the straight forward moral lesson of "Be careful what you wish for!"

"Shorts" is a good crowd-pleaser for kids, but as for parents and young adults, may you try to find a hint of satisfaction within the movie.

Cinema Online, 24 October 2009