“Catch That Kid” (20th Century Fox)
“Catch That Kid” is a movie seemingly aimed at the fans of “Spy Kids,” but a comparison between those two movies is like one between apples and oranges. “Spy Kids” had humor and an intelligent plot. “Catch That Kid” has slapstick comedy and a stupid plot.
The pre-teen characters in “Catch That Kid” are Maddy (Kristen Stewart), Austin (Corbin Bleu), and Gus (Max Theriot). Maddy likes to scale walls and buildings; Austin is into photography; and Gus works on go-carts. Maddy’s mother (Jennifer Beals) designs security systems while her father (Sam Robards) runs the local go-cart track.
Maddy’s father also once scaled the Alps. While doing so he suffered a fall which left him with some internal injuries. One day they act up and cause him to be paralyzed. He needs a special kind of surgery but it is experimental and the family’s insurance policy will not pay for it. The cost of the operation is two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Since her mother can’t raise the money, Maddy and her two best friends decide to steal it from the company where her mother has designed the security system. No one seems to think twice that stealing is not a good thing. In this case the end justifies the means.
Another dumb move is when Maddy and the two guys take her baby brother with them while they attempt the robbery. They use go-carts on the streets of Los Angeles and place the baby in jeopardy as well as themselves.
On and on and over and over this movie projects dumb situations like those. The plot is totally contrived and full of holes. Nothing is funny and nothing makes sense, but the kids have fun while they are becoming criminals.
The movie is rated PG for mild profanity and go-cart violence.
The three leads in the film are cute kids who might have solid careers one day. That is if they can avoid making more movies like this one.
Don’t catch “Catch That Kid.” Avoid it like the plague. Don’t even bother renting it when it comes out on DVD. This movie deserves to be gone and forgotten as soon as possible.
I scored “Catch That Kid” a let them go 4 out of 10.
