The Kid

Starring: Bruce Willis, Emily Mortimer, Spencer Breslin, Lily Tomlin, Jean Smart, Chi McBride, Matthew Perry (cameo)
Directed by: Jon Turteltaub
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
2000

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A workaholic consultant (Bruce Willis) is shocked when his eight-year old self (Spencer Breslin) appears. The two bond as they try to find a reason for this strange occurrence.

Review:

Tim: I didn't love The Kid, but I have to admit I liked it more than I expected I would. I remember being a teenager and seeing the trailers for this film, and just thinking, "Why would Bruce Willis do that? The movie looks so stupid!" Some of this was due to my closed-minded teenage self, but some of it was based in reality. It took me about 13 years to finally getting around to seeing this film, and it was better than I anticipated. It's still not a very good movie, but it gets close.

I was pretty intrigued by the basic premise- a man is confronted by his eight year old self. What would that experience be like, if suddenly, you were face-to-face with a younger version of yourself? What would you talk about? What would that feel like? I can imagine there would be a lot of conversations- as we get older, we forget so much about our past. I would love to talk with my younger self- what was I thinking about? What was I worrying about? What were my hopes and dreams, and how much of what I think was true about myself actually is? That would be a remarkable experience, and it was fun seeing Bruce Willis go through that on screen.

Now, this is a movie aimed at younger audiences, so the extent of this relationship isn't explored nearly as much as I would like. I will give the film credit for not pandering to younger audiences. I suspect kids will enjoy this movie, but there's a deeper message here that will resonate with adults. Not everything is candy canes and rainbows- this film does tackle some deeper issues. It makes you think about the events of your life, and how they shaped who you are today- for better or worse.

What's funny is that I still remember my initial thought about this movie- Why would Bruce Willis do this? Looking back now, I actually appreciate this departure from the norm. Willis has made so many action movies throughout his career, it's always fun to see him in a different setting. Here, he definitely embraces his comedic side. While there were a number of moments throughout the film where his acting felt forced, for the most part, I enjoyed him in this role. He does have good comedic timing, and it was enjoyable seeing him in this kids' movie. I also really liked seeing Emily Mortimer. Mortimer is such an underrated actress- I always love seeing her on screen, and she usually delivers a strong performance. She's in an underwhelming supporting role here, but her presence was one of my favorite aspects of this film.

I also have to give credit to Spencer Breslin. He really brings a lot of energy to the film. In a strange way, I could almost see him as a younger Bruce Willis. The film does a good job of giving us scenes that demonstrate the similarities between them. Child actors can always be a bit iffy, and while Breslin doesn't seem to be a truly great actor, he gives an energetic, fun performance here. For the most part, he was good. Lily Tomlin was also a nice addition to the cast and her dry humor worked well here.

As you might expect, the film's performance is muted some by its PG, feel-good focus. The movie is occasionally predictable, but it does throw a few unexpected curves into the mix. I would say that it was decently entertaining, but I never felt any connection to the characters. The whole airplane thing was a little confusing, and when it's finally explained, it just felt a bit too Hollywood to me. The whole ending to the film felt rushed and contrived. I have to say that I was not impressed with the ending of the film at all.

So, this film did a fairly average job of entertaining, and it kept the weak moments to a minimum. I wouldn't say this was a particularly good movie, but it's decent in almost every way. That is more than I expected from it. The Kid is worth checking out, but just temper your expectations some.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



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