"The Kid" Is A Mixed Bag Of A Movie...

The Kid (2000)

Rated PG

Starring Bruce Willis, Spencer Breslin, Emily Mortimer, Lily Tomlin, Jean Smart,

Directed by Jon Turtletaub

The Story:

Russ (Willis) is closing in on 40. He's an image consultant that doesn't really like his job, nobody really likes him, and he frankly really doesn't care much about anything anymore.  One night he comes home to find a kid named Rusty (Breslin) in his house. As the mystery unfolds, it would appear that Rusty is the 8 year old version of Russ and this is the classic, what key moment in life does Russ need to fix in his youth that will make his life better.  Or is it?

Also known as "Disney's The Kid", that should pretty much clue you in on how this movie will unfold.

My problem with it, is that it runs very slow throughout much of the plot.

I often argue that comedies, and family movies included, should run just about 90 minutes.

This one goes 15 minutes beyond that, and you feel every minute of it, and then some.

I'm not sure exactly where or why this takes place, but to me, the film just feels too drug out for its own good.

Once they finally figure out that Russ and Rusty are the same person, the race to the third act begins to pick up some speed.

Then, when it is revealed who caused the meeting between the two in the first place, you sort of shrug and say, "okay, whatever."

Never an intended consequence I would imagine.

Not a horrible way to spend your movie watching time, but nothing I need to rush back to do again.


Final Grade: C

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It had been 14 years since I last saw this one. Nothing screams that I can't wait another 14 to see it again.

The Sound Nobody Made Rushing To The Theater For This One..."Zoom"

Zoom (2006)
Rated PG

Starring Tim Allen, Courteney Cox, Chevy Chase, Kate Mara, Spencer Breslin, Ryan Newman, Michael Cassidy, Rip Torn

Directed by Peter Hewitt

The Story:

Jack (Allen) used to be a superhero, Captain Zoom, years ago.  However he gave up the gig when his team was destroyed fighting a super-villain, who just happened to be Jack's brother.  Years later, his brother is coming back from the dead, and the government wants to create a new team of heroes, so they round up some kids (Mara, Breslin, Newman and Cassidy) and under the watchful eyes of Dr. Grant (Chase) and Holloway (Cox), they will  become the planet's best hope for survival.  The project leader (Torn) wants to bring Zoom back into the fold to help train the kids.  Will they be ready to save the day?

Ah, the simpler times.

Super hero movies before the arrival of Iron Man.

:)

This, coupled with Sky High, made for a cute, family friendly superhero escape in the wake of The Incredibles.

Overall, the movie is still cute and fun nearly a decade later.

The acting is good, the storyline is okay.

I think the movie tried too hard to squeeze in gags for the sake of having a comedy moment.

Yes, I'm thinking of the sequence of Chase in the test chamber specifically.

The best gags in the movie happened organically, instead of forced.

A nice time capsule of life before the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do already own it, but it doesn't see much viewing time, as this is the first time in 8 years. :)