Review: Star Kid (1998)
Steve Rhodes
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STAR KID
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1998 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
After the simple looking little spacecraft lands in a automobile
wrecking yard, out steps a steel-gray, human-like creature with
aquamarine eyes and clad in a muscular suit. Spencer, the boy who
observes this, having seen his fill of science fiction flicks, figures
this thing must be a robot from outer space.
With the exception of Disney and a few others, most studios view
children's films as a way to ship a cheap and unimaginative product and
thereby make a quick profit. STAR KID stands out as that rare kids'
film that is undoubtedly low-budget but is also highly imaginative.
Remember, the robot? It wasn't one at all but rather a "Phase One
Assault Cyborsuit." The Cyborsuit is actually a prototype combat
enhancer developed by the Trelkins and jettisoned for latter retrieval
when they are under attack from the invading Broodwarriors.
The significant twist in the story is that Spencer gets to go
inside the Cyborsuit, and the Cyborsuit, nicknamed Cy, has plenty of
spunk. Cy keeps questioning the kid about everything including words
like "cool." Upon hearing that "command," Cy starts rapidly decreasing
the temperature in the Cyborsuit until Spencer screams for him to stop.
And when Cy speaks, we see Spencer's view, the backside of Cy's lips
and eyes.
As 12-year-old Spencer, Joseph Mazzello from the JURASSIC PARK
film series gives a remarkably good performance as a wimpy and
initially tongue-tied kid. Even when enclosed in his powerful new
Cyborsuit, he has his fears but he learns to overcome them.
"If you run away, things don't get better, whether it's bullies,
spiders, or girls," his science teacher advises him after he has
difficulties dealing with all three. Turbo (Joey Simmrin), the
school's chubby bully, beats up on him, spiders frighten him, and, most
embarrassing of all, he can't speak when in the presence of his
would-be girlfriend. With his Cyborsuit on, he learns some bravery
that transcends his time inside Cy.
Spencer lives with his Dad and his older teenage sister Stacey,
played by a smart-mouthed Ashlee Levitch, who looks like a younger
Sarah Jessica Parker. Stacey derides her brother, whom she barely
tolerates, by referring to him only as "the fungus."
This whole setup for Spencer's downtrodden and delightfully funny
life makes his acquisition of some superhuman powers a source of mirth
and empowerment. The beauty of Mazzello's performance is that you can
vicariously experience his fear and share in his enjoyment when he goes
after the bully to teach him a lesson he'll not soon forget. The
ensuing mayhem has some of the HOME ALONE antics, but the slapstick is
kept tightly under control by writer and director Manny Coto so that
one never feels embarrassed to be laughing.
The romantic angle is handled ever so delicately. When Cy wishes
to know if Spencer wants to mate with the object of his desire,
Michelle (Lauren Eckstrom), his eyes open wide in revulsion. "Mate
with her!" Spencer exclaims. "Pllllleeeeease, I just like her that's
all."
The show has many funny twists. In one, Cy sees a man in a
Barney-like costume and begins firing at him, thinking he is an alien
life-form. Soon things get way out of hand, and Cy and Spencer have to
beat a hasty retreat.
As proof positive of the show's class, it actually contains
tasteful bathroom humor -- thought that was an oxymoron in a kids'
picture, didn't you? Cy cannot allow Spencer to leave the Cyborsuit,
and what happens when he needs to urinate becomes both sweet and
hilarious. The director's staging of this sequence is one of the
film's more charming moments. Oh, and eating is pretty funny too.
Spencer, whose idol is the comic book character "Midknight
Warrior," gets to face the challenge of a lifetime when a Broodwarrior
comes to capture the Cyborsuit. Spencer's valiant battle gives him a
chance to find his mettle. And the action sequences in the battle
manage to be quite respectable for a kids' show full of inventiveness
and lacking the usual repetition.
For a family movie mixing humor, fantasy, and action, STAR KID
delivers. Although it's probably not the sort of movie you'd want to
see without kids, with them you'll have a magical time with a
relatively straightforward but well developed story. You'll be rooting
for and laughing with Spencer and his buddy Cy all the way through.
STAR KID runs 1:41. It is rated PG for fantasy combat. Although
the basically cartoonish Broodwarrior might scare the littlest kids, I
saw none of this in evidence in our packed screening, so I would say
the show is fine for kids five and up, and possibly the younger ones.
My son Jeffrey, age 8, got really excited about the picture. He
called it "an especially good movie" and gave it ****. When I asked
him to tell me his favorite characters, he mentioned almost everyone in
it from the boy to the Cyborsuit to the bully.
James Berardinelli
STAR KID
A Film Review by James Berardinelli
RATING: ** OUT OF ****
United States, 1998
U.S. Release Date: 1/16/98 (wide)
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG (Cartoon violence)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cast: Joseph Mazzello, Richard Gilliland, Ashlee Levitch,
Corinne Bohrer, Joey Simmrin
Director: Manny Coto
Producer: Jenny Lew Tugend
Screenplay: Manny Coto
Cinematography: Ron Schmidt
Music: Nicholas Pike
U.S. Distributor: Trimark Pictures
While STAR KID isn't based on a comic book, it might as well be.
However, unlike most superhero action movies, which aspire to be
embraced by viewers of all ages, this feature is aimed at an exclusive
sex and age group: preteen boys. But, while the picture is likely to
appeal to many members of the target audience, those on the outside may
be irritated by STAR KID's silly humor, flat characters, and juvenile
writing. When it comes to live-action comic books, this is uninspired
fare.
The basic premise of STAR KID (which was re-named from its more
appropriate, original title, THE WARRIOR OF WAVERLY STREET) is that 12-
year old Spencer (Joseph Mazzello), a comic book-loving nerd, sees a
spaceship crash-land near his house one night. When he goes out to
investigate, he discovers the "Phase I Assault Cybersuit," a living suit
of armor that is designed to encase a humanoid host. Once locked inside
"Cy," Spencer has some fun using his newfound abilities to do things
like torment the local bully and get some drive-through fast food. But,
with the arrival on Earth of a monstrous Broodwarrior, an enemy of the
race that created Cy, the situation turns serious.
As superhero stories go, this one has all the necessary elements:
an underdog who emerges on top, an oddball friendship (in this case, a
boy and his alien armor), a nasty villain, lots of neat powers for our
intrepid protagonist, and a big, climactic battle. Although competently
brought to the screen by director Manny Coto (DR. GIGGLES), most of what
goes on during STAR KID is strictly generic and by-the-book. It's worth
noting that, while the special effects aren't state of the art, they're
pretty impressive considering the film's low budget.
If you're looking for top-notch acting by "name" stars, this isn't
the right movie. The most impressive performance in STAR KID is given
by a special effect (Cy). Joseph Mazzello is adequate as Spencer, but
his work here doesn't come close to his impressive turn in SHADOWLANDS;
instead, it's more in line with his listless JURASSIC PARK output. The
other actors are adequate, and one or two of the faces may look vaguely
familiar, but no one is likely to get another job based exclusively on
their dubious accomplishments here.
If the premise -- a human being gaining superpowers as a result of
a special costume – sounds familiar, that could be because it was the
idea behind last year's Shaquille O'Neal feature, STEEL. However, while
the basic plot is a retread, at least the dialogue transcends the level
of nonstop, predictable clichés. Although there's nothing in STAR KID
that's likely to be mistaken for modern-day Shakespeare, surprisingly
few of the lines are cringingly awful. In fact, from time to time, the
characters in this movie speak like real people.
One thing that STAR KID has going for it is that it's rarely boring
(although the repetitious climactic battle goes on for about 10 minutes
too long). That's because of the notoriously short attention span of
the target audience. Twenty years ago, I suppose I would have enjoyed
this movie. Since then, however, my tastes have matured, and now I
demand a little more intelligence and sophistication than STAR KID
offers. Unless you're a boy between the ages of about 8 and 13, you're
likely to find little of interest in this picture.
Copyright 1998 James Berardinelli
- James Berardinelli
e-mail: bera...@mail.cybernex.net
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