Disney's The Kid

Disney's The Kid

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• Russ Doritz (Bruce Willis) is a successful, but unhappy image consultant who magically meets himself as an eight-year-old boy who doesn t like what he sees. With the help of the boy, Russ gets in touch with his childhood dreams. System Requirements: Starring: Bruce Willis, Lily Tomlin, and Emily Mortimor. Directed By: Jon Turteltaub. Running Time: 101 Min., Color. This film is presented

DVD Reviews of Disney's The Kid

DVD Review: Willis and Breslin Connect
Summary: 4 Stars

Coming upon his fortieth birthday, Russ Duritz (Willis) has built a successful career as an image consultant, but hes also built a wall around himself that keeps everybody out. Hes perceived as a rather hard, shallow person, and hes reached the point where he doesnt even know who he really is himself anymore. Not that he thinks about it too often. Hes lived so long behind that hard, external facade that gets the job done that he doesnt seem to care. But its taken its toll. He rejects his apparently loving and caring father, for example, but doesnt understand why, nor does he ever stop to even consider why it is so; its gone on for so long its just the way it is. End of story and move along.

Then out of the blue one night, an eight-year-old kid named Rusty (Spencer Breslin) shows up at his house. Rusty is about to turn nine, doesnt know where he belongs and proceeds to turn Russs world upside down. Because Rusty knows things he cant possibly know. Things that soon force Russ to take a step back and consider his life from a different perspective; things that open that channel that allows him to get in touch with himself at last, through Rusty-- a mere kid and a total stranger. And as the story unfolds Russ discovers that Rusty is indeed a kid, but a total stranger? Maybe not. Theres just something about Rusty that is too familiar, and the kid simply knows too much.

Turteltaub has taken a sensitive situation to which many will be able to relate, and examined it through the medium of fantasy/comedy/drama to deliver an affecting, touching resolution to a universal matter of the human heart. In the same spirit of films like Its A Wonderful Life, Mr. Destiny and the more recent The Family Man, he has used poetic license to peel away layers of cynicism and repressed feelings to get to the heart of the humanity that lives within us all, and he has done it successfully and to great effect. In a world of fast-food and instant gratification, the story of Russ and Rusty is not unique; and it just may be that a film like this can become the impetus for resolution and communication between estranged parties in some cases. Which, of course, would make this film more than mere entertainment, and thereby demonstrate the true power of the medium.

As he proved with such films as The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, there is much more to Bruce Willis than the action-figures he has created so well in so many other films (John McClane in Die Hard, for example). Here he shows that he can tread that fine line between comedy and drama and make it work very effectively, which is no small feat. He convincingly sells the hard-guy Russ at the beginning of the film, then just as convincingly sells the gradual transition and acceptance of a man who has for too long lived with a deception that has served to fool even himself. Its a solid, strong performance that makes Russ believable and allows the viewer to embrace the characters and the fantasy that is being played out, which ultimately is what makes the movie work.

Breslin, meanwhile, gives a natural performance that makes Rusty an endearing and credible character. Hes all boy and all kid, and because hes so real it is easy to empathize with him, which in turn opens that inner door to Russ, as well. And he really clicks with Willis (who as an actor is very generous with Breslin, giving him his own space and moments), and their scenes become alternately hilarious and extremely moving.

The supporting cast includes Emily Mortimer (Amy), Lily Tomlin (Janet), Chi McBride (Kenny), Jean Smart (Deirdre) and Dana Ivy (Dr. Alexander). In todays world (or anytime, for that matter), its a treat to run across a film like The Kid, because its not only entertaining, but a reaffirmation of the good that resides within us all, hidden away in many cases as it may be. Well crafted and acted, this is a positive, feel-good film that celebrates the best side of the human spirit and puts a smile on the face of humanity. And thats the magic of the movies.

Description of Disney's The Kid