I had the privilege of going to the Shorts premiere last weekend in Hollywood. Not only did I get to watch a super cute movie, but I also saw Desperado auteur Robert Rodriguez in the flesh. Score one for me.

I was surprised to learn the film was actually made for viewers over 13. While I used to roll my eyes when my kid-movie-obsessed mom made me sit through all the Spy Kids films, I secretly enjoyed every one, and I owe that entirely to Robert Rodriguez. Who would’ve thought the man behind El Mariachi, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and Desperado could also whip up such entertaining family fare?

Shorts is a classic kids’ adventure. Eleven-year-old “Toe” Thompson is the punching bag for bullies in the town of Black Falls, where everyone’s parents work for Black Box Industries, a company that makes a do-it-all gadget even cooler than an iPhone. After a freak storm, a mysterious rainbow-colored rock appears that grants wishes to whoever holds it. Magic and mayhem follow as it passes from kid to adult and back again. The movie is told in short, interconnected stories that show off the best and worst of the town.

The young cast is fantastic and genuinely charming, which makes the ride even smoother. Kat Dennings nails the role of the perpetually annoyed older sister, William H. Macy is great as a germaphobic scientist, and Leslie Mann and Jon Cryer are hilariously neurotic as tech-obsessed parents. But it’s James Spader, playing the greedy and over-the-top owner of Black Box Industries, who steals the show for me. My only complaint is that by the end, I really wanted my own rainbow wishing rock. Imagine being instantly debt-free.

It’s also kind of wild that Shorts and Inglourious Basterds came out on the same day. They are complete opposites in tone and audience, but it serves as a good reminder of how wide the Hollywood spectrum truly is. Here’s my suggestion. Take the kids to see Shorts, then get a babysitter and catch Inglourious Basterds the next day. That way both trailblazing directors get their moment, and you get the best of both cinematic worlds.