Kid At Heart

Elsewhere across the land you’re bound to read withering reviews of Disney’s “The Kid,” Hollywood’s newest attempt to heal Bruce Willis’ inner child.

But not here. And for one main reason.

He’s called Spencer Breslin.

Breslin is Willis’ 8-year-old co-star and, in the wish-fulfillment fantasy that fuels the movie’s plot, he plays Willis’ younger self.

See, Russell Morley Duritz (Willis) is what’s called an “image consultant” The job pays well, and it feeds his ego by allowing him to boss people around — people such as a whimpering politician or an Internet wizard who looks like a refugee from ZZ Top.

It also gets him called jerk a lot, by those who don’t know him and by those who do, including his assistant (Lily Tomlin) and his employee/frustrated love interest (Emily Mortimer).

So in the trademark way that Hollywood blends therapy and childhood trauma, “The Kid” works as a metaphor: Screenwriter Audrey Wells uses the past as a means to solve problems of the present.

On the eve of his 40th birthday, Russell’s not-quite-8-year-old self Rusty shows up to help him remember the pain of his past and, the hope goes, to do something about it.

How this visit, which begins with a swooping red biplane, takes place is ultimately explained — somewhat.

Either way, the explanation itself is less important than how it helps the story play out.

And thanks to young Breslin, it plays out well enough to offer up a pleasant couple hours of easy entertainment. Unlike any number of other Hollywood tykes, Breslin both has a quality of realness to him and he can carry a line of dialogue. He may speak, as Russell explains, as if he has a “mouthful of spit,” but he does so with authority.

In any event, he holds his own with Willis, who also is perfect. The role of Russell calls for a smirking jerk, and nobody in Hollywood plays a smirker better than Willis. It’s also true that we like to see him getting bounced around a bit before becoming something close to a human being.

Which is what “The Kid” is all about. Sure, Turteltaub (“Three Ninjas”) lets some scenes go on a bit long. And Wells’ script may both flirt with psychobabble and offer a few too many easy answers about why we so often end up as screwed-up adults. But, at its heart, the film means well.

Besides, who wouldn’t love to jump in a red plane and use that as a way of starting all over?

This sidebar appeared with the story:

“The Kid”

Locations: Newport Highway, River Park Square, Spokane Valley, Coeur d’Alene Showboat Cinemas

Credits: Directed by Jon Turteltaub, starring Bruce Willis, Spencer Breslin, Emily Mortimer, Lily Tomlin, Chi McBride, Jean Smart

Running time: 1:44

Rating: PG Willis’ young co-star makes new Disney movie worth watching