The Kid (2000)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Jon Turteltaub

Writer (WGA):

Audrey Wells (written by)

Release Date:

7 July 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Nobody ever grows up quite like they imagined.

Plot:

An unhappy and disliked image consultant gets a second shot at life when an eight year old version of himself mysteriously appears.

Plot Keywords:

Image Consultant | Childhood | 2000s | Time Travel | Twitch

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10	8:00 PM	WGNAMER
Sun. Nov. 15	4:00 PM	WGNAMER

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Russ Duritz
Spencer Breslin	...	Rusty Duritz
Emily Mortimer	...	Amy
Lily Tomlin	...	Janet
Jean Smart	...	Deirdre Lafever
Chi McBride	...	Kenny
Daniel von Bargen	...	Sam Duritz (as Daniel Von Bargen)
Dana Ivey	...	Dr. Alexander
Susan Dalian	...	Giselle
Stanley Anderson	...	Bob Riley
Juanita Moore	...	Kenny's Grandmother
Esther Scott	...	Clarissa
Deborah May	...	Governor
Vernee Watson-Johnson	...	Newsstand Cashier (as Vernee Watson Johnson)
Jan Hoag	...	Newsstand Tourist

Also Known As:

Disney's The Kid (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for boxing action and mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #37579) | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Haynes Street Elementary School - 6624 Lockhurst Drive, West Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Chester Films Inc.

Trivia:

Daniel von Bargen who plays Russ Duritz's (Bruce Willis) father Sam is only five years older than Willis.

Goofs:

Continuity: Russ opens his bottle of water twice while he's in the bathroom hoping young Rusty will disappear.

Quotes:

[Seeing that Russ and Rusty are the same person]
Amy: I wish I was standing on a carpet.
[faints]

Movie Connections:

Features "Larry King Live" (1985)

Soundtrack:

Up, Up and Away

No kidding - I loved it!

The Kid - At 39 years old Russel Duritz has a life that most men would envy - he has a great job, is respected (and feared), has a beautiful house and makes buckets of money. But everything comes at a cost, in this case no social life, no conscience and a fear of spending the rest of his life alone. He just needs someone to show him the way.

As I watched the movie, I kept wondering why Disney didn't pass this film on to Miramax - not because it's particularly daring or edgy, but because it is clearly a movie for adults. This is exacerbated by the marketing campaign which is clearly targeting children - it is lumped in with trailers for "Rugrats the Movie", and "Pokemon 2000" (aren't they passe yet?). But I quibble.

I was impressed by the sensitive treatment of the subject matter - rather than the typical male midlife crisis that involves some pathetic sap buying a Porsche convertible and acting like a moron, Willis' character undertakes some serious introspection and takes stock of his life. His guide on this journey of self-discovery is himself at age 8 (they never explain how Rusty arrives and frankly, I didn't care). Young Rusty's innocence and unbridled optimism give him a distinct advantage in divining the truth - he sums up Russell's job as an image consultant thusly, "You teach people how to lie and pretend to be something they aren't". In order for a good script to succeed, however, you need actors to bring it to life. Not a problem here.

Although Willis has thrice ignored W.C. Fields' warnings about starring with children or animals he has lucked out once again, meshing as well comedically with Breslin as he did dramatically with Osment. Willis manages to balance Russell's cutthroat powerbroker traits with vulnerability and confusion, without becoming ridiculous. Breslin meanwhile gives a dead on portrayal of a kid from everyone's childhood - the one that always stuck out for some reason and got picked on. We also get two bonus performances: Lily Tomlin is great as Russell's levelheaded assistant and Jean Smart is perfect as an insightful charming anchorwoman (I loved her in "Guinevere").

The Kid is charming, heavy, and real. And it will appeal to adults of all ages.