The Kid Detective
The Kid Detective is a 2020 Canadian mystery comedy-drama film written and directed by Evan Morgan and starring Adam Brody, Sophie Nélisse, Wendy Crewson, with Sarah Sutherland, and Tzi Ma.
The Kid Detective | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Evan Morgan |
Produced by |
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Written by | Evan Morgan |
Starring | |
Music by | Jay McCarrol |
Cinematography | Michael Robert McLaughlin |
Edited by | Curt Lobb |
Production company |
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Distributed by | Level Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Box office | $367,890[1][2] |
The Kid Detective had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2020, and was released in the United States on October 16, 2020. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $364,138.
Premise
A once-celebrated child detective, now 31, continues to solve the same trivial mysteries between hangovers and bouts of self-pity. But one day, a naive client brings him his first ever adult case -- to find out who brutally murdered her boyfriend.
Cast
- Adam Brody as Abraham "Abe" Applebaum
- Jesse Noah Gruman as young Abraham "Abe" Applebaum
- Sophie Nélisse as Caroline
- Peter MacNeill as Principal Erwin
- Maurice Dean Wint as Constable Cleary
- Tzi Ma as Mr. Chang
- Wendy Crewson as Mrs. Applebaum
- Sarah Sutherland as Lucy
- Jonathan Whittaker as Mr. Applebaum
Release
In October 2020, Stage 6 Films acquired distribution rights to the film, and set it for an October 16, 2020 release in the United States.[3] Level Film set a theatrical release date in Canada for November 6, 2020, and Sony Picture Releasing released the film on November 20, 2020 in the United Kingdom.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Kid Detective holds an approval rating of 79% based on 48 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "A low-key charmer led by Adam Brody's sharp performance, The Kid Detective uncovers dark comedy in a story of unfulfilled childhood potential."[4] Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5]
Writing for Variety, Tomris Laffly said "Adam Brody delivers a layered performance as a past-his-prime PI in debuting director Evan Morgan's sharp crime tale with shockingly dark twists."[6] John Defore of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Morgan's script generously allows us to deduce the truth just before Abe stumbles across it, which is not to say it doesn't have some real surprises left. It's fun to watch Abe put A and B together, and to regain some of his self-respect in the process. But even victory will bring mixed emotions, which Morgan conveys with unsettling finesse."[7] The Los Angeles Times called "The Kid Detective is an unexpected mix of disparate elements that in the wrong hands could have resulted in lumpy parody but, fortunately, pours out as something smooth, funny, dark and potent."
The film was named to TIFF's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for feature films.[8]
References
- "The Kid Detective (2020)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- "The Kid Detective (2020)". The Numbers. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- Lawrence, Gregory (October 12, 2020). "'The Kid Detective' Trailer: Adam Brody Leads Dryly Comic, Unique Noir". Collider. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- The Kid Detective (2020). Rotten Tomatoes.
- https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-kid-detective
- "'The Kid Detective' Review: This Smart, Handsomely Noir-esque Whodunit Is No Child's Play". Variety.com.
- "'The Kid Detective': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Victoria Ahearn, "Toronto International Film Festival releases Top Ten lists for 2020". Squamish Chief, December 9, 2020.