Really fun, silly mixture of 60s teen film and sci-fi: little Ronny Howard (that Ron Howard) invents material which causes creatures to grow. Its stolen by some high spirited teens (led by Beau Bridges, that Beau Bridges) who take over the town. The classic sort of film which falls into the not-as-bad-as-you-think-but-not-as-good-as-it-could-have-been.Positive virtues: the cast (also including Tommy Kirk in the lead, Johnny Crawford, Ron Howard’s dad Rance as deputy, Mickey Rooney’s son Tim – he looks like him - and Ann Sothern’s daughter Tisha Sterling), the performances, some social commentary (Bridges and company want to take over from the adults), the special effects, the music (including the groovy theme song and the Beau Brummels – the nightclub they perform at is actually the Whiskey a Go-Go).
There are two decent action sequences: one when Kirk and company use their cars to try and capture Bridges, and a replay of the David and Goliath battle when Kirk takes on Bridges with a slingshot, plus a pretty good fight where Kirk and his girlfriend kill a giant spider.
I also loved all the random moments – especially all the go-go dancing (there’s go-go dancing over the opening credits, then in the first sequence, then in the night club, then at a party, then when the kids become giants (when they realise they're giants and can do anything they want... the first thing they do is go-go dance) - and when the good kids have to distract the bad kids they send in Toni Basil to... you guessed it... go go dance); I love the way Kirk suddenly has two random dorky looking friends out of nowhere (one of them is fat and looks like Drew Carey) and how when giant geese go and dance in the club no one is really fazed; there's also plenty of giant cleavage, and a brunette member of the gang who seems to disappear for periods at a time.
There is also some pleasing clashes within Bridges' gang (Bridges isn't as keen as some others to take over).
Frustratingly under-developed in parts though - we could have seen more why Bridges clashes with the adults, more with the landslide (some adults are away others are around - but the town doesn't feel cut off), Bridges and his gang lack a plan (surely they would try to do something really cool being giants - knock over a building or something - but the filmmakers seem more interested in having characters hang off giant breasts), Kirk (whose character, while brave, is a bit of an Uncle Tom to be honest - and he was only interested in exploiting the formula for money not anything altruistic) runs around in little shorts a lot of the time; also the fight with the giant spider indicates a whole other, possibly more exciting direction the film could have gone in (but they probably blew their sfx money on the breasts).
There is a genuinely funny end gag.
Fansite for the film is here
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