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The Kid Detective Review: A Uniquely Entertaining Noir Style Dramedy
There have been all types of coming of age story explored in Hollywood, and by multiple generations, but The Kid Detective still manages to put a fresh spin on the classic tale - one that feels particularly tailored to right now. Written and directed by Evan Morgan (The Dirties) in his feature-length directorial debut, The Kid Detective posits the question of what would happen when a child is heaped with praise and accolades, then faces defeat for the first time, and must somehow move forward and grow up. The answer offered by Morgan's movie seems to be: only with a great deal of effort. The Kid Detective is a unique coming of age story, using a high concept premise and noir style to explore the darker realities of growing up.
Abe Applebaum (Adam Brody) was a highly successful kid detective, solving relatively minor cases like who stole the school fundraiser money or finding someone's missing cat. He was so beloved by the town that they set him up in his own office. But when one of his classmates goes missing and Abe can't figure out who took her, the town loses faith in him - and he loses faith in himself. As a 32-year-old detective, Abe still solves the same kind of trivial cases he did as a kid. That is, until innocent high schooler Caroline (Sophie Nélisse) asks Abe to figure out who murdered her boyfriend. The mystery will force Abe to confront his past, including his greatest failure, if he's going to solve his very first serious case.
In The Kid Detective, Morgan deftly blends multiple genres together, including comedy, noir and drama. There's an especially cynical portrayal of Abe's town that's reminiscent of classic noir mysteries, and Brody's character even offers his own voiceover narration of the tale, another staple of the genre. This noir style is at odds with the wide-eyed optimism of young Abe, whose story as a kid detective seems ripped right out of the 1950s, but that only serves to highlight the cynicism of Abe and his town later in life. The Kid Detective straddles the line between realism and fantasy, with young Abe's story being a little unbelievable while the character's adult life feels all too real. It all adds to the atmosphere of The Kid Detective because even if the kid detective's meteoric rise strains the viewer's suspension of disbelief, Morgan takes the audience on an entertaining ride.
Leading that ride is, of course, Brody as the adult kid detective. The actor has the perfect balance of cynicism and child-like insecurity to carry off the movie's premise and Abe's journey. As an adult, Abe is haunted by the one mystery he couldn't solve. As a result, he's never truly grown up, still solving the same kind of mysteries he did as a kid, still using the same techniques. Brody manages to bring some real depth to Abe, offering glimpses at how traumatized the detective is by the case of his missing classmate. Brody also works well with Nélisse as the young Caroline, though the actress is given far less to work with, largely playing a stock character meant to instigate Abe's journey. The same goes for much of The Kid Detective's cast, there aren't any really fleshed out characters aside from Abe. But since The Kid Detective is Abe's story alone, that's largely forgivable, especially since Brody's performance is an excellent anchor for the film.
Because of Abe's journey, The Kid Detective seems tailor-made for a Millennial audience filled with those who excelled in their early years - particularly in school - only to be thrust into a real world without structure or any real barometer of success. That's not to say only Millennials (or all Millennials) will relate to The Kid Detective, since its coming of age tale is sure to appeal to all ages, but the story feels especially characteristic of the Millennial experience. As older generations punch down on Millennials for ruining the housing market or whatever else, The Kid Detective speaks to the cynicism born of growing up optimistic and becoming disillusioned with the world while struggling to find a place in it.
As a result, The Kid Detective is certainly worth checking out. Even though its quirky premise may not feel relatable, Abe's story is one that many folks will be able to see themselves in - especially those who were particularly successful in their younger years only to feel like a failure as an adult. At its core, The Kid Detective is also just a plain, entertaining mystery - that has a satisfying conclusion both for the case itself and Abe's journey. Anyone interested in the premise or in Brody's performance would do well with giving The Kid Detective a watch.
The Kid Detective starts playing in U.S. theaters Friday, October 16th. It is 97 minutes long and rated R for language, drug use, some sexual references, brief nudity and violence.
