The Atomic Kid.

Review #935: The Atomic Kid.

Cast:
Mickey Rooney (Barnaby 'Blix' Waterberry), Robert Strauss (Stan Cooper), Elaine Devry (Audrey Nelson), Bill Goodwin (Dr. Rodell), Robert Emmett Keane (Mr. Reynolds), Whit Bissell (Dr. Edgar Pangborn), Joey Forman (MP in hospital), Dan Riss (Jim, FBI Chief Agent), Peter Leeds (FBI Agent Bill), and Hal March (FBI Agent Ray) Directed by Leslie H. Martinson (#177 - Batman)

Review:
I suppose the random nature of this show means that any film I happen to come across is fair game for reviewing...and this one (distributed by Republic Pictures) just popped up. I suppose summer vacation is the best time to churn out some more reviews, no matter what the result. This is the first time I'm reviewing a film with Mickey Rooney as the main star, and what better than a movie where he gets an atomic bomb dropped on him? Or one where he eats a sandwich with peanut butter sardines, and horse radish? Of particular note is that the film was written (along with Benedict Freedman and John Fenton Murray) by Blake Edwards, one year before he became a director. This is a movie that clearly aspires to be something easily digestible while being considerably thin in plot. Rooney is somewhat entertaining, managing to have some fun, and he has somewhat capable buddy chemistry with Strauss, though they don't have much screen-time in the middling middle parts of the movie until the end of the film. Devry (billed as "Ms. Mickey Rooney" in the beginning credits) and Rooney are somewhat interesting to watch, but they can't carry the movie to any real enjoyment. It really is just a movie with some mild gags, simply put. This is a movie not worth complaining too much about in part because remembering it is more of an effort than trying to actively give criticism. Is there any highlights? I guess the geiger counter watch is somewhat neat looking, though it is muddled by all the gags involving the main character's neutrons changed anytime he gets in contact with the nurse (get it?). Somehow, the plot includes a spy ring, though it doesn't really go anywhere. Simply put, it's a stale but harmless kind of movie.

Overall, I give it 5 out of 10 stars.