'Pretty in Pink' reunion: Cryer, Spader in Rodriguez' 'Shorts' (VAR, THR)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

Jon Cryer, William H. Macy, Leslie Mann and James Spader will star in Robert Rodriguez� upcoming family comedy adventure "Shorts." The film, written by Rodriguez, is being produced by Warners in association with Abu Dhabi Media Co. and MRC, report the trades.

Rodriguez will produce with Elizabeth Avellan under their Troublemaker Studios banner. Dan Lin, Hunt Lowry and Stacy Cohen exec produce. Rodriguez is also serving as his own d.p., editor and f/x supervisor.

�Shorts� will film entirely on location in Austin. The story is set in a fictional suburb where all the houses look the same and everyone works for Black Box, manufacturer of the ultimate communication and do-it-all gadget.

When a young boy discovers a rainbow-colored rock that grants wishes to anyone who holds it, it causes havoc amongst the kids before turning up several notches when adults get their hands on it.

Cryer and Mann play the boy's parents while Dennings is the boy's older sister. Spader is Mr. Black and Macy is the father of a germ-phobic genius.

The movie marks a big screen studio feature return for Cryer who has spent most of career in television after making a name for himself in movies like "Pretty in Pink." He co-starred with Spader in �Pink� who has also made a name for himself on TV with his Emmy-winning turn in �Boston Legal.�