THE KID DETECTIVE (2021)

 Written & Directed By: Evan Morgan Cinematography: Mike McLaughlin  Editor: Curt Lobb

Cast: Adam Brody, Wendy Crewson, Kaitlyn Chalmbers-Rizzato, Jonathan Whittaker, Kaleb Horn, Sarah Sutherland, Steve Gagne, Sophie Nelisse, Griffin Wardle 

A once-celebrated kid detective, now 32, continues to solve the same trivial mysteries between hangovers and bouts of self-pity. Until a naive client brings him his first 'adult' case, to find out who brutally murdered her boyfriend.

This is a film best to go into blind but the title kind of gives you a hint.

This film helps you breathe a breath of fresh air. As it is smart but not pretentious, at times feels more like a book adaptation than an original film. 

It is original in the best ways. It never takes itself too seriously and while being a comedy for the most part at heart it is also a general mystery. That comes across as neo-noir

The film has more of a premise you would expect in a high concept comedy where a kid detective was basically broken by one case from his teens. Still, practices detective work in the same small town. But his life is a wreck and most of his cases come from teenagers for very simple tasks.

The film also gives a chance to show what happens to children we might prop up for a special ability in their youth that is squally reserved for adults, but what happens when they get older and that isn’t impressive anymore. It’s almost more expected of you or rather basic.

Once he actually is called in on a case of murder by the deceased’s girlfriend. We learn that this picturesque small town has an underground dark side. While grounding the murder and mystery deeper the more adults he talks to. Throughout he is mostly dealing with teens and trying to justify himself to others who once believed in him and now more pity him.

It’s an excellent character-based film that while wing a neo-noir and lacks a femme fatale. It does involve a female character. Who subconsciously haunts him.

By the third act of the film. We are pushed in a direction we never saw coming that actually deepens everything. We have seen before and while the film was running well before. The last act is what really raises the film and its Stakes. We are left with an aftermath that isn’t as clean-cut and tidy as we are used to.

The film shows that Adam Brody still can impress in a lead role. He is usually Relegated to supporting roles In Comedies. Here he excels even as a sad sack he is charming and likable. He really helps keep the film together especially as he is in most of the scenes.

The direction is light and crisp not so stylized that you would expect in a film like this. Which is what makes it’s darker moments so unexpected. 

The film would make a good double feature with the Teenage detective mystery BRICK. 

Grade: B+