JUST YOU AND ME KID
US, 1979, 93 minutes, Colour.
George Burns, Brooke Shields, Nicholas Coster, Lorraine Gary, John Schuck.
Directed by Leonard Stern.
Just You And Me Kid is a pleasant, slight comedy which received fairly negative reviews. It stars Brooke Shields - who pouts and looks attractive. But it also stars George Burns who has a field day in his genial old character with his one-liners. It is a very good, typical George Burns performance. There is some good supporting work from Nicholas Coster, Lorraine Gary and John Schuck. The film is a variation on the Odd Couple theme: an old man and a teenager on the run from drug pushers.
1. An enjoyable comedy? Characters? An odd couple?
2. A piece of Americana, the generation gaps, the old and the young, parents and children, affluence, trendiness, drugs? The world of the theatre? Nostalgia and humour? Sentiment?
3. A vehicle for George Burns? His screen persona? Comedy, one-liners, deadpan style? Jokes about ageing? A vehicle for Brooke Shields - glamour, beauty? How well does the combination work?
4. George Burns' portrait of Bill: age, wisdom, wit, jokes, one-liners and timing, a man alone, his lack of relationship with his daughter Shirley, liking her or his son-in-law, his friendship with Max, the visits and Max's not replying, having all Max's magician's gear throughout his house, the visit to the supermarket, the finding of Kate, having to cope, talking and telling his story, telling jokes, the clash, her spraining her ankle, using magic to conceal her, the visit to the doctor and the memory of friendships, his card-playing friends, the neighbours and their snooping, Shirl and the confrontation, the police, the criminal and bailing him up at sword-point, capturing him, becoming a father to Kate, Shirley and Harris adopting her?
5. Kate and her situation, the money, institutions, sullen, no laughing, curious, her story, her wanting to escape, her being hidden from the police, unlocking the door, the point of her returning, the climax with the criminal? Her future?
6. Shirley and her concern about her father, his will, his sanity? Discussions about senility? Her comments about his absence from her during her childhood, forcing her onto the stage when she had no talent etc.? Harris and his general sympathy towards Bill? Their adopting Kate?
7. The jogging neighbours, their curiosity, ringing Shirley?
8. Burl Ives as Max - his silence, the old man retired, his not communicating, Kate’s suggestion that Bill terminate the. visits, Max's response, coming alive?
9. The background of drug-dealing, money, violence? Wealthy connections? His being bailed up by the sword, trussed up in the magician's bag?
10. The card-playing friends,,- character actors, especially Ray Bolger? The friendly doctor? The supermarket people and their friendliness?
11. An odd couple, loneliness, bonds, warmth, sentiment, laughs?
