Movie Type: Showbiz Comedy, Family-Oriented Comedy
Themes: Actor's Life, Mischievous Children
Main Cast: Michael J. Fox, Christina Vidal, Nathan Lane, Cyndi Lauper, David Krumholtz
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
James Lapine, whose Broadway credits as a writer/director includes work with Stephen Sondheim, made his Hollywood debut with this comedy. Michael J. Fox plays Michael Chapman, who once upon a time was a wise-cracking child star on a situation comedy called "Life With Mikey." Now in his thirties and on the skids, Michael makes personal appearances at grand openings of hamburger stands, and runs an unsuccessful talent agency (specializing in kids) with his brother Ed (Nathan Lane). The agency's only successful client is Barry Corman (David Krumholtz), a fourteen-year-old with an attitude who is known as "the cereal king" for his appearances on television commercials. Ed is trying to talk Michael into closing the agency and Barry is threatening to go elsewhere when a sprightly 10-year-old reprobate named Angie (Christina Vidal) tries to pick his pocket. When Angie delivers a heart-rendering tale of questionable honesty about being an orphan from Queens, Michael realizes that Angie would be perfect for a Sunburst Cookie commercial. She clicks in the commercial, and both her career and the agency's soar. In the meantime, Angie movies in with Michael, and as they bond, Michael realizes how to act like an adult and Angie realizes how to act like a child. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Review
Directors who have great success in the theatre are often lured to film through either talent or ego, with naturally varying degrees of success, such as Sam Mendes and his work on American Beauty. Another noted stage director, James Lapine, perhaps best known for his work with Steven Sondheim, took the plunge with the well-intentioned comedy Life With Mikey, featuring Michael J. Fox as a former child star turned agent and Nathan Lane in one of his first major film roles as his brother. What's disappointing is how disjointed the film is, considering that it has some very funny moments, particularly from the younger cast which features Christina Vidal and David Krumholtz, who has perhaps the single best line in the film when he compares himself to Job. Unfortunately, the viewer may also feel like Job when the film is finished. Fox tries hard and he's rather likable but everything seems forced, particularly his scenes where he and Vidal are supposed to be expanding their relationship from agent/client to genuine affection. The overall idea is pretty sound, it's just never fully realized. It's obvious that Fox is supposed to prevent Vidal from having the miserable show business childhood he had, but it's never clear that they are moving in the right direction despite the feel-good ending. Perhaps the most interesing thing to be said for the film is the huge number of theater folk who have been given cameos, including the playwrights Wendy Wasserstein and Christopher Durang but unless one is a true maven of the theater, you don't know it's them unless you sit through the end credits. By that time, it's probably too late. Cyndi Lauper also does a somewhat credible appearance as the secretary. ~ Dan Friedman, All Movie Guide
David Huddleston - Mr. Corcoran; Victor Garber - Brian Spiro; Mary Alice - Mrs.Gordon; Dylan Baker - Mr.Burns; Christine Baranski - Carol; Kate Burton - Mrs.Burns; Robin Byrd - Bambi; Frances Chaney - Mrs.Cantrell; Eve Crawford - Courtney's Mom; Brenda Currin - George's Mom; Anaysha Figueroa - Kimberly Denise Jackson; Paula Garcés - Janice; Kathryn Grody - Mrs.Corman; Annabelle Gurwitch - Debbie; Tony Hendra - Cookie Commercial Director; Jerry Lawler - The Lobotomizer; Heather MacRae - Mrs.Tobin; Michelle Moffett - Kimberly's Mom; Silvio Oliviero - Marker; Mandy Patinkin - Irate Man; Marcell Rosenblatt - Tiffany's Mom; Ralph Small - Mr.Wasserman; Mario Todisco - Driver; Aida Turturro - Officer Moran; Rubén Blades - Angie's Father; Christopher Durang - Santa; Carlton Watson - Galaxy Waiter; Jessica Wilson - New York Singer; John Lyons; Laura Bundy - Courtney Aspinall; Ann Lawrence - Concerned Woman; Hrant Alianak - Cereal Commercial Director; Frank Crudele - Passerby; Kelli Fox - Marilyn; Stephen Bogardus - Man 1; Michael Rupert - Harrison; Sean Power - Lenny; Kevin Zegers - Little Mikey
Credit
Dennis Davenport - Art Director, Daniel Davis - Art Director, John Lyons - Casting, Diane Martel - Choreography, Marc Lawrence - Co-producer, William Ivey Long - Costume Designer, James Lapine - Director, Robert Leighton - Editor, Alan Menken - Composer (Music Score), Adrianne Lobel - Production Designer, David Coatsworth - Production Designer, Rob Hahn - Cinematographer, Scott Rudin - Producer, Teri Schwartz - Producer, Gordon Sim - Set Designer, Martin Malivoire - Special Effects, David Lee - Sound/Sound Designer, Marc Lawrence - Screenwriter
Mikey Chapman (Michael J. Fox), a former child star and now a talent agent for child stars, discovers Angie Vega (Christina Vidal, in her first movie), a girl who pick-pockets for money and lives with her teenage sister and her boyfriend. Together, they try to hit it big and earn her a role on a series of television commercials.
An episode of Spin City, "Wife With Mikey", is titled with a nod to this film. It is the last episode in which Fox appears, having left the regular cast at the beginning of the previous season due to his worsening Parkinson's.
