Kids World is a 2001 children’s film written by Michael Lach and directed by Dale G. Bradley. Though the story is set in Oregon, the project was filmed in Auckland, New Zealand.[2] The film had limited release in the US in 2001, before its Australian release on Boxing Day, 2001, and New Zealand release in 2002. In the United Kingdom, its DVD title was "Honey, the Kids Rule the World." In 2007 it had DVD release under that title by Third Millennium Distribution and in 2008 by Boulevard Entertainment.[3] It aired in 2007 in Romania on Kanal D television.

Kids World
(aka Honey, the Kids Rule the World)
early DVD coverart
Directed byDale G. Bradley
Written byMichael Lach
Produced by
  • Grant Bradley
  • Thomas Mulack
  • Tom Taylor
Starring
CinematographyNeil Cervin
Edited byDouglas Braddock
Music byBruce Lynch
Production
companies
  • Blue Rider Pictures
  • Daybreak Point Entertainment
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 7 December 2001 (2001-12-07) (U.S.)
  • 26 December 2001 (2001-12-26) (Australia)
  • 28 March 2002 (2002-03-28) (New Zealand)
Running time
93 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • New Zealand
LanguageEnglish
Box office$19,354[1]

Plot

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12-year-old Ryan Mitchell (Blake Foster) and his friends Stu (Anton Tennet) and Twinkie (Michael Purvis) are tired of being told what to do. They have to do their homework, eat their vegetables, wear a coat when they go outside, wear a helmet when they ride their skateboards, and aren’t allowed to come and go as they please like their older brothers and sisters. One day, Ryan and his pals find an ancient Native American burial ground, where they discover a magical wishing glass. Using the glass, Ryan wishes that all the grown-ups and teenagers in the world would disappear—and suddenly, his wish comes true! It’s party time for Ryan and all his friends until they discover there’s a problem——the moment anyone turns 13, they suddenly vanish!

Main cast

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Reception

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Reception

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"Variety" panned the film calling it "Charmless and exceptionally tasteless pre-teen time-filler" and "the sort of movie that seems conceived more out of tax-credit incentives than from any real desire to engage children’s imaginations." The story is set in Oregon but shot in New Zealand, exemplified by the principal cast’s accents. The work of writer Michael Lach and director Dale G. Bradley was pointed out as a "slack setup, in which recycle decades-old cliches about why kids don’t get along with their parents."[2] They found Christopher Lloyd’s presence as a mentally disabled man with the mind of a child inexplicable, in that it was a "thankless role, which requires little of him, except to sit on a porch, playing a didgeridoo (another good hint that we’re not really in Oregon) until, in a few moments of convenient lucidity, he helps to save the day."[2]

Conversely, Australia’s "Urban Cinefile" gave a positive review, offering that it was "refreshing to see a film where kids behave like kids," calling the film old fashioned, "in that it relies on its storyline and engaging performances by a terrific young cast."[4] They felt the film was a colorful adventure for pre-teens and that it was "jam-packed with humor, action and enough twists and turns to keep us engaged. [sic]"[4] The also felt the music score was both fast-paced and upbeat, and praised the entire cast, noting that Christopher Lloyd’s character was credible.[4]

Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ "Kids World (2001) - Financial Information".
  2. ^ a b c Foundas, Scott (9 December 2009). "Review: 'Kids World'". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  3. ^ staff. "Honey, the Kids Rule the World". AllMovie. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Keller, Louise (24 March 2005). "Kids World DVD review". Urban Cinefile. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
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