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

Towards the ending of the credits it says that this motion picture was created by 'Chester Film Inc.'. 'Chester' is the name of the dog in the film. A joke from the producers.

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Goofs

As Russ and Rusty are in the diner for the last time drinking chocolate shakes, they toast. When the glasses clink together you can see that Russ drops his drink but in a split second he has a full cup in his hand.

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Quotes

Rusty Duritz: So, I'm forty, I'm not married, I don't fly jets, and I don't have a dog? I grow up to be a loser.

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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

References Lost Highway (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Trumpet Voluntary"
(uncredited)
Composed by Mike Hunkenson
Courtesy of Associated Production Music

User Reviews

not just a kid movie

While my kids enjoyed the movie (and announced afterward that they want to buy it later) I think I got more out of it that they did. The scene in the airport shop at the beginning is real life (I did not use the cutting comment aloud, but I thought it). It is a feel good mid-life movie, a bit sappy and some scenes work less well than others (why does the kid stay with Bruce Willis after he knows his Mom is dying?), but all in all and good time. It also gave our family something to talk about - did my kids think my life was boring? What do they expect at 40? How can you not like a movie that gets a good conversation going with your kids?