L'enfance de l'art

Life With Mikey is essentially about a kid who never grew up. Michael J. Fox plays a child star who unlike the real Michael J. Fox never did much after his television series Life With Mikey finished its run. Now he and his brother Nathan Lane who does have a life away from his job run a talent agency for kid performers. It sure allows him to keep in the company of kids.

Fox and Lane have a pretty ramshackle operation with bigger agencies poaching their clients. Their own good client young David Krumholtz is a holy terror and Lane's about ready to pack it in.

Then one day on the street Fox discovers young Christina Vidal a street smart kid with personality and he signs her. Her home life frankly sucks and she moves in with him.

Even in this day and age the 30 something Fox with a 13 year old Vidal might have raised eyebrows. Easily this film could have gone off in that sordid direction. But nothing like that is remotely happening though Vidal is cramping whatever love life Fox has.

Life With Mikey is a nice entertaining film that launched Christina Vidal who like Fox transitioned into adult roles. After a quarter of a century the film is still enjoyable.

Performances to note also are those of Cyndi Lauper as the Fox/Lane secretary who is a most invaluable employee and David Huddleston as the cookie tycoon who hires Vidal as his cookie spokesperson for commercials. Vidal has some great scenes with him as well.

A most enjoyable and gentle comedy.

Michael J. Fox's considerable on screen charm was used to good advantage in LIFE WITH MIKEY, in which he played the former child star of a sitcom called "Life with Mikey" who now is partnered with his brother (Nathan Lane) in running a children's talent agency, even though his brother does most of the work. Things look up when Mike literally bumps into 10-year old shoplifter (Kristina Vidal)who Mike sees as a possible gold mine for their agency and does manage to get her a lucrative commercial deal as cookie salesgirl. This movie is watchable thanks to a charming performance by Fox, who imbues his own experience as a former child star into this character and this performance. It's very sad whenever you watch Mike go into one of his stories about his days on the sitcom and how whoever he's sharing it with looks completely bored. Lane offers comic relief as Mike's brother and Cyndi Lauper steals every scene she is in as the agency's receptionist. There are also some laugh-out-loud hysterical sequences of children with varying levels of talent auditioning for the agency. Between these scenes and Fox's performance, this film can hold your interest.

This is a great movie and michael J. Fox does excellent in this role! This is the movie that marked the beginning of the career of christina vidal, although some others may not agree I thought she did great. As the little tough girl from the streets of brooklyn she does an excellent job. This movie is something I bought after seeing this on HBO and to me is a classic. This is definitley worth a look and I give it 4 1/2 to 5 out of 5 stars. One thing to know about this movie. Don't think about it. JUST WATCH!

I haven't watched this movie in a long time, but it still holds clear in my mind: Michael J Fox is a child actor turned talent agency rep. The gist is that they are going down the tubes and it will take a definite miracle to pull things back together. Fox is charming to the last, and also brings light to an issue that was becoming more and more prominent in the early 90's- smoking and trying to quit. Nathan Lane was very funny and sociable with Fox in this film, and Angie was a devious, but reliable kid. I didn't realize Cyndi Lauper was Geena until I wrote this summary. I've heard about her being a celeb, but I didn't realize I had a film with her in it.

I love this movie - Michael J Fox and Nathan Lane, you wouldn't expect anything but genuine comedy. The entry of this movie is one of the reasons why I do not want to give much respect to IMDb ratings. Everyone wants to be an arty or an intellect here, when movies like these (though not very intellectual, having brilliant entertainment value sans rubbish) get lost with low ratings.

There are some insanely funny scenes - at the same time there are some wonderfully touching moments as well. I watched this movie 10 yrs ago - I love it now as much as I loved it back then. The atmosphere of the film is simple, entertaining and funny.

This is a must watch, if you enjoy light-hearted, genuinely funny comedies. Very good movie 9/10