Synopsis
Aaron Roman is a teenager with cerebral palsy who dreams of starring in a big-time action movie. When his father grants Aaron his wish for his eighteenth birthday, he experiences the reality a bit hard to manage.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Tom ArnoldBill Williams
- Eric GoresAaron Roman
- Linda HamiltonSusan Mandeville
- Joe MantegnaDavis Roman
- Henry WinklerJohnny Bernstein
- Richard EdsonGuy Prince
- Shannon ElizabethShelby Roman
- Brenda StrongBonnie Roman
- Arielle KebbelArielle
- Shaquille O'NealShaq
Recommendations
- 75
Chicago Sun-Times
Not a great film, but you know what? It achieves what it sets out to achieve, and it isn't boring, and it kept me intrigued and involved. As an actor, Eric Gores creates an engaging and convincing character that I liked and cared about -- and believed. - 70
Los Angeles Times
It is difficult to imagine anyone but Spheeris pulling off this movie, undercutting all mawkishness, bringing to it nuance and shading, not to mention wit. The result is an enjoyable family movie. - 60
Variety
It's the weird proximity of fact and fiction that could push this Penelope Spheeris-directed comedy into another cultish realm entirely. - 58
Entertainment Weekly
Wayne's World's Penelope Spheeris directs and also plays herself, in a movie with a message as self-congratulatory as it is meta: All problems are surmountable when selfless Hollywooders work extra, extra hard, pulling together ''for the kid.'' - 50
The A.V. Club
Shamelessly manipulating his audience, wallowing in his highly questionable premise, and above all mocking himself, Arnold bulls ahead enthusiastically and without reservation, and in the process, he brings something like dignity to one of the least dignified movies in recent history. - 40
Village Voice
Qualifies as the most indulgent kind of homemade project, laden with tediously inspirational dialogue and visuals that seem shot through half-fizzled Yuengling. Kudos to Gores, at least, for acquitting himself as an actor. - 40
L.A. Weekly
Gores certainly seems to be enjoying himself, and diplomacy and plain old good taste prevent one from saying much of anything about his screen performance. Arnold doesn't merit such kindness, nor does producer and director Penelope Spheeris, whose work barely rates above the level of rote competence. - 30
The New York Times
Good intentions do not guarantee good movies, or even watchable ones. A sad case in point is The Kid and I.
