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DISNEY'S THE KID Send This Review to a Friend
Looked at as a Disney dose of family entertainment, "The Kid" is a modest winner despite the heavy helping of sentimentality involving Russ, an image consultant who is all work and no play until a supernatural development plops into his life a kid who is himself at the age of eight. The journey they take together teaches Russ about what's important in life. Check reality at the box office--this is family fantasy.
Bruce Willis as Russ displays the charm to make the character work, and Spencer Breslin as little Russ, or Rusty, is a real find. He's sassy and amusing without becoming cloying. True, a little of him goes a long way. But he is a funny little guy with a cherubic face and skillful at tossing off comic lines. British actress Emily Mortimer plays Amy, Russ's assistant, who is in love with him. She's very Audrey Hepburn; she resembles the late star and while not nearly as radiant, has a perky appeal of her own. Amy has the task of teaching Russ about principles lacking in his willingness to improve images for unworthy clients.
I liked Jean Smart in the role of Deirdre, a TV anchor woman who gets some handy advice from Russ in a chance meeting on an airline and later has a cozy bar scene with him. Smart telegraphs intelligence and warmth and there is promise of hot sex between them, but this is a family film and the relationship doesn't materialize. Lily Tomlin has an agreeable but thankless role as Janet, Russ's executive secretary.
There's considerable hocus pocus in working out the fantasy elements that flip the story back and forth in time. But the bottom line is that screenwriter Audrey Wells and director Jon Turtletaub (also a co-producer) have created a film that fits easygoing family entertainment needs. A Disney release.
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