The Kid (2000)

An unhappy and disliked image consultant gets a second shot at life when an eight year old version of himself mysteriously appears.

Director:

Jon Turteltaub

Writer:

Audrey Wells

Stars:

Bruce Willis, Spencer Breslin, Emily Mortimer

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Willis	...	Russ Duritz
Spencer Breslin	...	Rusty Duritz
Emily Mortimer	...	Amy
Lily Tomlin	...	Janet
Jean Smart	...	Deirdre Lafever
Chi McBride	...	Kenny
Daniel von Bargen	...	Sam Duritz (as Daniel Von Bargen)
Dana Ivey	...	Dr. Alexander
Susan Dalian	...	Giselle
Stanley Anderson	...	Bob Riley
Juanita Moore	...	Kenny's Grandmother
Esther Scott	...	Clarissa
Deborah May	...	Governor
Vernee Watson-Johnson	...	Newsstand Cashier (as Vernee Watson Johnson)
Jan Hoag	...	Newsstand Tourist

Storyline

Russ Duritz is a wealthy L.A. image consultant, but as he nears 40, he's cynical, dogless, chickless, estranged from his father, and he has no memories of his childhood. One night he surprises an intruder, who turns out to be a kid, almost 8 years old. There's something oddly familiar about the chubby lad, whose name is Rusty. The boy's identity sparks a journey into Russ's past that the two of them take - to find the key moment that has defined who Russ is. Two long-suffering women look on with disbelief: Russ's secretary, Janet, and his assistant, the lovely Amy, to whom Rusty takes a shine. What, and who, is at the end of this journey?

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Plot Keywords:

image consultant | childhood | alternative history | fighting style | inner child | 

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Taglines:

Nobody ever grows up quite like they imagined.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for boxing action and mild thematic elements

Details

Official Sites:

Disney (UK)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 July 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disney's The Kid

Filming Locations:

Coachella Valley, Mecca, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£383,783 (UK) (10 November 2000)

Gross:

ESP 491,340,030 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chester Films Inc., Junction, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Matthew Perry:  After striking up a friendship with Bruce Willis on the set of The Whole Nine Yards, Perry accepted the role of the shaggy haired and heavily bearded Mr Vivian. He spent 3 hours in makeup for the part which lasts less than 40 seconds on screen. He also accepted minimum wage for the role and went uncredited.

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Goofs

Russ and Rusty are supposed to be the same person however Bruce Willis (Russ) is left handed while Spencer Breslin (Rusty) is right handed. This is especially noticeable during the scene where Russ and Rusty are playing cards out on the balcony but can also be seen when the characters are are doing other things such as eating.

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Quotes

Russ Duritz: Aww, somebody call the waahmbulance!

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the movie there is an explanation for why the moon appears orange when it rises. This is a reference to a question posed to Russ Duritz by his 8-yr.-old alter ego, which Russ later asks his assistant to check on.

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Connections

Features Larry King Live (1985)

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Soundtracks

" (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher"
Written by Carl Smith, Gary Jackson and Raynard Miner
Performed by Jackie Wilson
Courtesy of Brunswick Records

User Reviews

The Kid In Us All...

When the first trailer for this film was viewed by myself, I was curious as to what angle the storyline would take. After all the plot of having one's childhood self return to the present leaves open many options. Bruce Willis however does a superb job in the role he was given. I was surprised to see just how well he could act in this part. This is also a good career move as many others have said but after seeing it I now agree. This film is mainly about remembering the kid you used to be, and coming to the realization that you aren't the adult you planned to be. This is a wonderful story and a gripping tale that makes us all think. Usually we scorn at "What if..." movies. For example, Waterworld attempted to answer the question "What if the world were to be covered with water and...?" But truthfully, nobody cared. This movie however effects everyone in the theatre. True, young children may not fully grasp the idea of growing up and having all your dreams fizzle away, but it leaves a great impact on the adults and parents of those children. This movie is definitely worth seeing. Although, it will be better the second time around because you won't be thinking so much (about how the kid got there, and why and all that stuff) Just relax and have fun. And take something with you when you leave that cinema. Take that piece of your childhood you've forgotten and enjoy it.