RETRO REVIEW
What would you do if you happened to bump into the younger version of yourself? Would you ask them about times gone by? Would you ask what it's like to be in the future? Or would you suffer a nervous breakdown? Bruce Willis, in his Walt Disney Pictures debut, is about to confront his past in order to face his future in Disney's The Kid. The family fantasy comedy-drama film, directed by Jon Turteltaub (the National Treasure films, The Sorcerer's Apprentice) features former child actor Spencer Breslin (brother to Academy Award-nominee Abigail), Emily Mortimer (The Pink Panther films, Shutter Island, Hugo) Lily Tomlin (Ponyo, A Prairie Home Companion) and Jean Smart (Youth in Revolt, Sweet Home Alabama).
Russ Duritz is a man who likes to keep to himself. He travels all around the country as an image consultant to high-priced clients including governors and baseball stadium owners. All the while, he carries around an insensitive, condescending, sarcastic attitude. He even keeps count of the times he is called a jerk daily. His longtime doting assistant (Emily Mortimer), Amy, and his put-upon secretary (Lily Tomlin), Janet, endure dealing with him. Amy confesses that the only way she can be around him is when he does something fun and unexpected, "...and I get the tiniest, briefest glimpse of the kid in you". When he goes home, he begins seeing a young boy running around his house. The next night, he finally figures out who it is - his 8-year-old self from 1960: Rusty Duritz (Spencer Breslin). Initially terrified and believing that he is losing his mind, Russ realizes that he is stuck with his child self. Russ is willing to do anything to send Rusty away, until he deduces that Rusty was sent forward into time in order to learn something. Together, the old Russ and the young Rusty begin to find something in each other they never knew they had.
I give credit to Bruce Willis, this was at the time where he was globally known as John McClane. He even had his own short-lived Saturday morning cartoon, "Bruno the Kid". Doing a cutesy Disney movie should be a great career move, right? Well, it didn't have much of an impact on his career; he did Unbreakable in the same year (reteaming him with future Hollywood leper M. Night Shyamalan), which is a darn good movie. But still, too much sugary sweetness in a movie drives you mad, and this movie is full of it. It's not an awful, unwatchable movie by any means, but seasoned film viewers will find no taste in it. The time travel goes mostly unexplained, though one could say the same for the other use of time in Groundhog Day. A lot of the supporting cast goes somewhat underused in the film, though its focus on Russ/Rusty isn't interrupted in ways other films might. There is a section of the film that goes from happy to overtly dramatic in seconds and it's not quite handled properly. There is a payoff for it, but it's relatively weak. The movie is essentially a modern-day "A Christmas Carol", but not set at Christmas; it's your typical "humbug learns a lesson" story. So you can already see where it's headed.
Russ Duritz is a man who likes to keep to himself. He travels all around the country as an image consultant to high-priced clients including governors and baseball stadium owners. All the while, he carries around an insensitive, condescending, sarcastic attitude. He even keeps count of the times he is called a jerk daily. His longtime doting assistant (Emily Mortimer), Amy, and his put-upon secretary (Lily Tomlin), Janet, endure dealing with him. Amy confesses that the only way she can be around him is when he does something fun and unexpected, "...and I get the tiniest, briefest glimpse of the kid in you". When he goes home, he begins seeing a young boy running around his house. The next night, he finally figures out who it is - his 8-year-old self from 1960: Rusty Duritz (Spencer Breslin). Initially terrified and believing that he is losing his mind, Russ realizes that he is stuck with his child self. Russ is willing to do anything to send Rusty away, until he deduces that Rusty was sent forward into time in order to learn something. Together, the old Russ and the young Rusty begin to find something in each other they never knew they had.
I give credit to Bruce Willis, this was at the time where he was globally known as John McClane. He even had his own short-lived Saturday morning cartoon, "Bruno the Kid". Doing a cutesy Disney movie should be a great career move, right? Well, it didn't have much of an impact on his career; he did Unbreakable in the same year (reteaming him with future Hollywood leper M. Night Shyamalan), which is a darn good movie. But still, too much sugary sweetness in a movie drives you mad, and this movie is full of it. It's not an awful, unwatchable movie by any means, but seasoned film viewers will find no taste in it. The time travel goes mostly unexplained, though one could say the same for the other use of time in Groundhog Day. A lot of the supporting cast goes somewhat underused in the film, though its focus on Russ/Rusty isn't interrupted in ways other films might. There is a section of the film that goes from happy to overtly dramatic in seconds and it's not quite handled properly. There is a payoff for it, but it's relatively weak. The movie is essentially a modern-day "A Christmas Carol", but not set at Christmas; it's your typical "humbug learns a lesson" story. So you can already see where it's headed.
Still, if you're a nostalgic Disney geek like me, you could do worse than The Kid. It has some nice moments and a good Bruce Willis performance. Spencer Breslin does test your patience at times, but give him a break, it was his first movie. You can't always expect greatness from a debut performance. I love the score of the film by Marc Shaiman, especially the cue going through the opening credits. Perhaps admitting I'm a nostalgic Disney geek makes me biased, but The Kid has some heart and humor and that's good enough for me.
NOTE: Interestingly enough, Bruce Willis has a new movie out soon with a similar premise, but most certainly without The Kid's family-friendly tone. The movie is Rian Johnson's Looper, and co-stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano and Piper Perabo. Set for release on September 28th, here's the trailer. - Zack
