5 out of 5

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Am I awful for rating this five stars? Maybe. But from my first viewing up through my… uh, severalth, I found it satisfying on several levels: as a kid movie, as an adult / kid movie, and as a Bruce Willis movie. The plot is a spin on a favorite Disney / 80s genre that finds a way of mixing an uptight adult and a spunky kid in funny situations. In this instance, Russ Duritz (Willis) is a successful image consultant, approaching 40, estranged from his father and mostly friendless, who suddenly finds himself saddled with an 8 year old kid (Breslin) who wont… cant go away. Maybe the kid is an 8 year old version of himself. The family friendly lessons about civility and responsibility that are passed on are apparent from the character setups, but there is a patient and respectable charm to the way its layered into the movie. The film in general brings a good balance between silly and mature – especially in Breslins acting and the fairness with which Willis shallowness is portrayed. It paints it on a little thick at the end, with some odd editing / music splices dashed in, but overall, this is prime, responsible kid fare, something you dont see as often anymore. It also, for Bruce fans, gives him room to spread his acting wings a bit and is one of my favorite BW movies.