An offbeat piece of real-life wish-fulfillment, THE KID & I stars Tom Arnold as Bill Williams, a down-and-out actor who, just like Arnold himself, had his greatest screen success opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in TRUE LIES. Just as Williams is about to kill himself, he gets the offer to write and star in an action film in which he will be teamed with hardcore TRUE LIES fan Aaron Roman (Eric Gores, Arnold’s real-life neighbor), the cerebral palsy-stricken son of multimillionaire Davis Roman (Joe Mantegna). In a slightly cracked mirror version of the film’s behind-the-scenes true story, Williams reluctantly agrees to the offer, only to find himself transformed by his young costar’s indomitable spirit.
As with reality TV, THE KID & I could almost be marketed as a documentary. Star Gore’s wealthy father did commission neighbor Arnold to pen THE KID & I for his TRUE LIES-loving son, director Penelope Spheeris (WAYNE’S WORLD) appears as herself, and we even get to see some home movie footage of Gore as a child. But the result, which could have been cloying or exploitative, is an unusual family-friendly satire of Hollywood that doesn’t shy away from a little darkness when necessary. Gore--who really does suffer from cerebral palsy--is a winning presence, game for anything and with sharp comic timing. And though one could go crazy trying to figure out where Bill Williams ends and Tom Arnold begins, his patented manic self-deprecation is appealing and he has a great foil in veteran character actor Richard Edson.
2.
From the director of "Wayne's World" comes a unique and inspiring comedy. "The Kid & I," loosely based on a true story, stars Tom Arnold, Linda Hamilton, Henry Winkler, Joe Mantegna, Shannon Elizabeth and newcomer, Eric Gores in this buddy movie with a fresh twist.
Bill Williams (Arnold) is a down-and-out actor who is unexpectedly hired to write a sequel a la "True Lies," the action film that made him famous more than a decade ago. When Bill learns that his co-star is Aaron Roman (Gores), a rich kid with no acting experience, what appeared to be the chance for a major comeback turns into a series of outlandish complications.
As they embark on a journey of outrageous misadventures, the unlikely duo discover that it takes more courage to face real life challenges than it does fighting bad guys on the big screen. Although Aaron may be inexperienced in acting, his tenacious spirit, unwavering optimism and unconditional friendship turns out to be an important, enduring gift to Bill.
"The Kid & I" stars Tom Arnold and Eric Gores and is directed by Penelope Spheeris. The film boasts an all-star cast that includes: Linda Hamilton, Henry Winkler, Joe Mantegna, Shannon Elizabeth, Richard Edson and Brenda Strong, as well as some cameo surprises. The film is written by Tom Arnold; produced by Penelope Spheeris, Tom Arnold and Brad Wyman; and executive produced by Jordan Katz and Marie L. Fhyrie.
Tom Arnold stars as a film actor who just wants to regain the success and fortune he achieved 10 years ago when he was an action star. He is hired to write and act in a blockbuster, but complications ensue when he learns that his co-star is a young man with cerebral palsy who's been given the starring role by his father, a big Hollywood executive.
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