The Kid and I
Sometimes when I’m at home unloading the dishwasher my dog watches me with a completely bewildered expression. She sits on her haunches tilting her head to the left and right while struggling to comprehend what it is that I am doing. That’s how I felt watching The Kid and I. This is easily one of strangest films I’ve ever seen.
Tom Arnold plays Bill Williams, a down on his luck actor who once starred as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sidekick in True Lies. Yep, he essentially plays some alternative reality version of himself. On the verge of suicide, Williams is approached by his agent Johnny Bernstein (Henry Winkler) who finally has a job for him. Bernstein takes him to meet the extremely wealthy Davis Roman (Joe Mantegna). Roman explains that his son Aaron (Eric Gores) has seen True Lies nearly a hundred times and he wants Bill write a buddy picture for Aaron to star in. Of course this leads Bill down a road of self discovery and redemption. We all know where it’s going it’s the ride that counts.
This whole film is like it’s been made from some left over Charlie Kaufman screenplay. When you first start watching it, you’ll think that this is a really dark film, but as it continues there are times where it is so syrupy sweet that you just want to gag. Not only that, but this film is damn near a documentary. Tom Arnold wrote The Kid and I for the purpose of letting Gores star in his own film where Tom Arnold is the sidekick. Think about this filmic mobius strip: Penelope Spheeris plays herself as the director of the movie within the movie she is actually directing. So what is that? If she’s filming herself directing a movie for a kid whose father paid for him to have a film is that fiction or non fiction? It’s almost as if they are making an adaptation of the story that is unfolding with every action they take in making the film.
I’m not going to give it away, but there is scene at the end of this film that’s just bizarre. I’m not sure if it’s telling me if all that I had seen previous to this scene was just a fantasy or not. I’m fairly certain that isn’t the case, but man it took me a second wrap my brain around it. By the way, did I mention Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis and Shaquille O’Neil have cameos?
I’m not even sure if it’s worth even really discussing the acting since if you see this film it’s more for the experience of seeing it than anything else. There are times where you feel as though they just shoved the actors out in front of the camera and yelled “action”. Then again, there are other times where Arnold surprisingly holds his own with some heavy scenes. Like everything about this film it’s spotty.
I can’t really suggest anyone see this, because I don’t think they will actually enjoy it. However, if you want to see something that you’ve never seen before you might should check this one out. You just can’t take your eyes off of it, but not in a car accident sort of way. It’s more like watching two walruses mate. While it’s happening you’re totally riveted, but when it’s over you’re not sure how you feel about it.
The Grade
- Story: B-
- Acting: C+
- Visuals: B-
- Originality: B-
- Enjoyability: C-
- Overall: C
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