Me and the Kid (1993)

Director:

Dan Curtis

Writers (WGA):

Stanley Cohen (novel)
Richard Tannenbaum (screenplay)

Release Date:

22 October 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Family

Tagline:

What can you give a kid who has everything? A life.

Plot:

A lonely and emotionally neglected rich kid forms an attachment to one of the men who kidnap him during a botched robbery of his father's safe.

Plot Keywords:

Brooklyn Bridge | Family | Con Man | Kidnapping | Allergy

Cast

Danny Aiello	...	Harry
Alex Zuckerman	...	Gary
Joe Pantoliano	...	Roy
Cathy Moriarty	...	Rose
David Dukes	...	Victor Feldman
Anita Morris	...	Mrs. Feldman
Rick Aiello	...	Agent Pasetta
Demond Wilson	...	Agent Schamper
Ben Stein	...	Fred Herbert
Robin Thomas	...	Dr. Berman
Abe Vigoda	...	Pawn Broker
Todd Bryant	...	J.P
Alaina Reed Hall	...	Sarah
Mowava Pryor	...	Janeeta
Eric Wylie	...	Boy in Pick Up

MPAA:

Rated PG for threatened violence toward a child, and for language.

Runtime:

Netherlands:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Australia:M | USA:PG

Company:

Dan Curtis Productions

Soundtrack:

GOIN' TO MEXICO

A Touching Film in some aspects.....but.....

This was aired recently on WAM and I didn't get in on the very beginning of the film. I thought the film had it's touching, moving aspects, especially the development of the relationship between Danny Aiello and Alex Zuckerman's characters. Perhaps intentionally or unintentionally, it follows what happens sometimes when the kidnapped bonds with the kidnapper. And it helped the plot to have one of the kidnappers be the "baddie" and Aiello's character the "good guy at heart."

If there was one aspect of the film which bugged me, it's the same thing that always bugs me. Why is it necessary to get a kick out of seeing and hearing a child use profanity? Yeah, I know it was supposed to illustrate the level of bonding, and yeah, I know they use it in the real world in some homes, but I think most parents get tired of letting their kids watch what is supposed to be a family film, and then have to go through....."I don't care that the kid said 'Son of a *****' in the film, we don't use language like that in this house." It just simply isn't necessary, and I can't help wondering if filmmakers do it on purpose just to get a rise out of people like me. Probably! :) It's also sad that a kid actor with hopes of advancing his/her career probably couldn't refuse to do what he was told too often. I remember Austin O'Brien and Henry Thomas in interviews saying once that they didn't want to use some of the language they were asked to use, but there was a hassle over it. I wish family films could be family films, and that the industry would realize that not everyone out there has a garbage mouth.

Other than this, I thought the film was fun, especially the ending. I don't think it deserved the low rating it was given by other critics.