Most of the characters in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids are wrestling with disappointment in some way. Wayne Szalinski is struggling with feelings of inadequacy as a scientist. Big Russ Thompson is struggling with feelings of disappointment that his kids aren't following in his footsteps. And the kids? Well, they're just disappointed that their families are falling apart.
You might think family therapy would be the best way to mend these fences, but these two disparate clans take a decidedly different route. We'll give you a hint: it involves a shrink ray, an errant baseball swing, and a little bit of empathy. Now that's a triple threat.
Questions about Disappointment
- What is the nature of Wayne's disappointment?
- How does Little Russ react to his father's disappointment in him? Does he do this in a healthy way?
- How do feelings of disappointment affect each family? Are they affected in a similar way?
- Is Diane disappointed with Wayne? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
Little Russ deals with his father's disappointment in an unhealthy way because he lets it prevent him from being honest.
Wayne is disappointed with himself because his failure to make his machine work undermines his self-image as a genius inventor.