Movie Clip Discussions

Kid, The (B)

August 17, 2004

Main Point: Self-image; cynicism; growing up.

The tagline for this movie is: Nobody ever grows up quite like they imagined.

Introducing the Clip:
This clip is from the movie “The Kid.” It is about an image consultant with an inferiority complex with the distinct honor of being despised by many people. He gets a second shot at life of sorts when a nine year old version of himself magically appears before him.

In this scene Russell Duritz and his coworker Amy are watching the young “Rusty” and talking about him. Russ is obviously repulsed by his child self. Let's take a look and see what happens.

Key Scene Script:

BEGIN CLIP AT 57 minutes and 45 seconds in Chapter 13.

Russ:

(obviously repulsed by his younger self, he cringes)

Amy: You’re not embarrassing. You’re adorable. (pausing and correcting herself) Then… you’re adorable then.

Russ: (continuing to berate his younger self) Doesn’t the fact that I’m a pathetic dweeb make you despise me?

Amy: No. Why? Do you despise you?

Russ: When I look at him all I see are awful memories… memories I have been spending most of life trying to forget.

END CLIP AT 59 minutes and 28 seconds in Chapter 13.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

ASK A FEW: In the clip, Russ talked about awful memories, memories he’s been trying to forget. Do a lot of people today have bad memories or regrets that make them feel down on themselves?

ASK A FEW: Have hard situations in your childhood made you cynical and maybe turned you into someone you don’t like?

EVERYONE: We’re going to take a few minutes and write down key events that might have affected you negatively; just a phrase or sentence, like “parents divorced when I was 8.” This is for your eyes only, unless you want to share it later.

ASK A FEW: Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “You can let it make you bitter or better.” Do you think those negative childhood experiences are permanent? Will they keep you from success? Why or why not?

ASK A FEW: Can these experiences actually help you be more successful? Why? (Leader – an example may be: maybe the parents divorcing and mom working made them have to learn to be more responsible, etc.)

Read the following passage:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.