The Kid 2000

     Russ Duritz is a wealthy LA image consultant.  He is nearing 40, he has become very cynical and he is estranged from his family.  His father invites him to come for dinner when his sister and her family will be there but he doesn’t.  For some reason, Russ has no memories of his childhood?  Russ’s secretary Janet is long suffering and his assistant Amy is also long suffering.  One night there is an intruder in Russ’s house??  How can this be since he has a high tech security system?  It turns out to be a chubby young boy named Rusty.  He is really Russ when he was eight years old!!  Russ and Rusty journey into Russ’s past to find the key moment that has defined who Russ is.  Jane, Amy and Dr. Alexander (Russ’s psychiatrist) all hope this will work!!

      This film is showing it’s age.  There is not one wrinkle in Bruce Willis’s face!!  Counselors do advise patients to connect with your younger self to revisit a hidden and painful moment in your past.  This is a moment that can change and define who you are to this day.  This film is thought provoking and offers a visual to a helpful psychological method in unveiling past trauma.  Maybe you could save money and not see a psychiatrist?  3* (This movie is OK)    

Special Note:  This is a Disney movie filmed in Los Angeles, Mecca, Coachella Valley, Santa Monica, Burbank, California.  Daniel von Bargen plays Russ’s father and he is only five years older than Bruce Willis.  Two other movies with Bruce Willis meeting his younger self are Twelve Monkeys 1995 and Looper 2012.  Melissa McCarthy is a waitress at a diner and this is her first film.  This is the final film of Juanita Moore and this also marked her first on screen presence in 12 years.  Tim Allen was offered the role of Russ Duritz but he was too busy filming Galaxy Quest 1999.  

104 min, Comedy directed by Jon Turteltaub with Bruce Willis, Spencer Breslin, Emily Mortimer, Lily Tomlin, Jean Smart, Chi McBride, Daniel von Bargen, Dana Ivey, Suisan Dalian, Stanley Anderson, Juanita Moore, Esther Scott, Deborah May, Vernee Watson, Jan Hoag.  

Note:  Imdb 6.1 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 49% critic 49% audience, Roger Ebert 3*, Metacritic 45 out of 100 with 32 critics 6.3 out of 10 with 31 user scores (14 positive, 13 mixed, 4 negative), The Film File.com 2* out of 4*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 508 reviews.