News > Robert Rodriguez Gathers Cast for "Shorts"

Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann, and James Spader will serve as the primary cast in Robert Rodriguez's new family comedy adventure "Shorts." According to Variety, "'Shorts' is set in a suburb where all the houses look the same and everyone works for Black Box, manufacturer of the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget. Chaos follows when an 11-year-old boy is hit in the head with a rainbow-colored rock that grants wishes to anyone who holds it." As is often the case, Rodriguez will write, direct, and serve as DP, editor, and visual effects supervisor. On the one hand, that rare independence can free an artist to express himself to the best of his ability. On the other hand, there's not going to be anyone there to tell him whether he's making a genuinely entertaining film or "Shark Boy and Lava Girl 3-D 2." I love his director commentaries (very informative about filmmaking if you're interested in that line of work), but he can be inconsistent as all get-out.

The cast also includes Jimmy Bennett, Kat Dennings, Trevor Gagnon, Leo Howard, Devon Gearhart, Rebel Rodriguez, Jake Short, and Jolie Vanier.

-David Morgan