Kidco

Believe it or not, this film was inspired by true circumstances. Four minor children, heirs to Cessna Aircraft's family owners, incorporated and purchased public land in 1979. After selling the rights to their story, it was heavily fictionalized and made into this movie.

I would classify this as family entertainment but with the disclaimer the children use mild profanity occasionally. Nothing that a 6th grader couldn't handle, especially taking into consideration the filth children are exposed to these days. It is both a light-hearted fantasy and a glimpse into the nature of entrepreneurship and owning/running a business. (There are some glaring errors, such as no one under 18 can enter into a contract without the signature of a parent or legal guardian. Also, you must be 18 in most states to form a corporation.)

The children give really good performances. I did laugh out loud here and there, although there are plenty of moments the dialogue falls flat, or at least feels forced. The last half takes a more complicated tone, but the ending rounds it out.

Don't take it too seriously. This isn't Chekhov or Shaw. Let it be what it mostly is--good fun.

While I was in first grade at Thornydale Elementary, in Tucson, AZ., the crew from Kidco did a presentation at our school's assembly hall asking for extras. I took the "permission slip" home to my parents and begged them to let me be in the movie. They signed the forms, and we went to a large casting call. I call it a casting call because I don't know what else to call it. I didn't get in the movie, but some of my friends were in the courthouse scene. We all received Kidco t-shirts and felt like we were movie stars (even though most of us were not in the picture.)Looking back, nearly twenty-five years later, this was a fun and interesting event in my life. I saw the film again in the mid-nineties, and enjoyed it. It has some of the same moral thematics as "The Goonies," but presents them in a less fantastic way--or does it?

KIDCO, which sounds more like a toy manufacturer, expressed some signs of power for its time about getting rich, a major 80s lifestyle theme. The story about selling manure and making big bucks is very unusual, but thought-provoking and imaginative for youths to dream of someday attaining fame and fortune. Unfortunately, that dream becomes a valuable lesson in life when there are trials and drawbacks in operating any kind of business, including lemonade stands, or else eventually getting caught for violating any means of strict regulations. That's the important vital aspect of the film. Targeted at mostly young children, it's too sophisticated and the acting comes up flat, but there is a place in its heart for the fantasy of it all. Talk about an awful lot of kids! A good little film, though ordinary.

A real life drama concerning a brother, his three sisters, and their hugely successful manure business. Perfect fare for the early 80's as the kids rake in the dough and show where a little entrepeneurship can take you. However the movie moves slowly and becomes very complicated when KIDCO runs afoul of the IRS. It's here most likely where the target audience of children will find themselves lost as tax codes, etc are reviewed ad nauseum. This movie was filmed in 1982, but was shelved until being released in 1984.

When this first came out on premium movie channels - our whole family watched it every time it was on. Then we taped it on a VHS tape. Took a couple of trips to Callifornia from Illinois (driving the whole way) had a VHS player and small color TV that would run off car battery and selected movies for kids to watch in transit to keep them occupied and also for us 2 grownups to watch and relax when we'd stop and have our meals/breaks. That was one of the movies taken on those trips and we eventually wore it out because we watched it so much! I wish that Kidco would come out on DVD so I can get a copy for myself and for each of my kids (4) so they can sit and enjoy it with their families like we did.

While the acting may not be up to some peoples standards, the message that the movie gets across is great for kids, parents (even parents-to-be!) - the whole family unit. IF you can find it - enjoy and be prepared to laugh!