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.
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Isaac585518 August 2006
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bkoganbing2 December 2018Life 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. -
Fyyona12 February 2005Ahh yes, "Life With Mikey".
It's a cutesy little film about a former child star, Michael Chapman, who is now working in a talent agency alongside his brother, Ed Chapman. However, Michael has been neglecting the agency and piles pretty much all of the work on poor Ed. He also lives in a messy apartment, appears to be a heavy smoker and has missed out on a lot of education from his childhood due to his stardom. His adult life is a wreck.
One day Michael is pick-pocketed by a young girl, Angie. He sees her again later and she appears to have been caught attempting to pick-pocket somebody else. At this point she bursts into tears and blurts out some dramatic dribble about her family, winning the sympathy of passers-by. Michael witnesses her performance and tells her that she could use her acting skills to become wealthy.
Later we discover that Angie does, in fact, have domestic problems. Her mother is dead and her father is at a rehabilitation centre. She has to live with her older sister and her boyfriend who push her aside, and do not take good care of her at all. Angie decides to go and live with Michael, giving him the responsibility of taking care of her.
This film has its high points and low points. It appealed to me because Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane and Cyndi Lauper are in it. It was lovely to see these familiar faces, and they each gave a good performance. However, the plot itself was a bit all-over-the-place. It is difficult to give the full summary of what happens but I think that Michael's responsibility for Angie is where the majority of the plot lies. I also found some scenes in this film painfully cheesy. The "happy birthday" scenes, the auditions and the wrestling scene in particular were a bit of a let-down for me.
Overall, I think this film is alright. It's not exactly a must-see film but, hey, you might enjoy some of it. -
nimstic29 October 2011I 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 -
wes-connors26 November 2012Former "Life with Mikey" kid Michael J. Fox (as Michael "Mikey" Chapman) is now a thirty-something New York City agent for young performers. The ex-TV sit-com star is the slacker half of a partnership with brother Nathan Lane (as Ed Chapman). Their receptionist is loyal Cyndi Lauper (as Geena), who most memorably sang "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (1984) as a pop star. Presently, Mr. Fox and Mr. Lane survive mainly due to the success of obnoxious David Krumholtz (as Barry Corman); this film parallels Mr. Krumholtz' scripted contribution as his is the most satisfying characterization...
Fox hopes their fortunes increase with the signing of mature 10-year-old Christina Vidal (as Angela "Angie" Vega), a girl he meets under odd circumstances. A violent street thief, young Vidal includes Fox in a round of pick-pocketing. Fox figures her out and tries to retrieve his wallet. Vidal assaults Fox and threatens him with a knife. Wounded from a kick, Fox manages to catch up with Vidal and is impressed with her acting. He estimates she will make $250,000, including his 10% commission...
However, there are complications...
Throughout the story, youngsters audition poorly. Late in the running time, listen for one, Anaysha Figueroa (as Kimberly Denise Jackson), to end the unrelentingly awful auditions with a fine vocal. Most of the other kids must be better than they sound here. Vidal is cute, though her character's flaws make her unworthy of fame and fortune. However, she is a vegetarian. Fox performs capably, as he knows how to do in comedy situations. It's not enough to lift this flat material. As you might be expecting with this sort of film, Vidal and Fox learn from each other and get on with their lives. You should, too.
*** Life with Mikey (6/4/93) James Lapine ~ Michael J. Fox, Christina Vidal, Nathan Lane, David Krumholtz -
"Life with Mikey" covers similar territory to "Broadway Danny Rose" except the "Talent" are stagestruck juveniles rather than worn-out wannabes.Marooned at the bottom of the showbiz foodchain,agent Michael J. Fox is basically living on long memories and sympathy from his own time as a child star.When a cute kiddie down on her luck tries to pick his pocket he thinks he recognises potential star material in her. He gets her a role in a cookie commercial and sits back to count the cash-but things don't quite go according to plan........ Mr Fox is convincingly slobbed out and seedy and his clients as hopeless as you might expect,but there is very little spark to this movie. The scenes in the TV studio just aren't funny because the commercials are so self-aware that they are beyond parody.Mr Fox's cute little poppet herself is 11 going on 25 and Miss Cindy Lauper looks and sounds as though she was auditioning for a part in "Roxie Hart". I had never heard of this movie when it popped up on the digital channels the other afternoon and,to be honest,it won't stay long in my memory,but it does have its moments,mostly involving the child actor playing "The Cereal King" who possesses an awfulness that is,in it's own way,quite spellbinding. Made when the excellent Mr Fox's career was in the doldrums,"Life with Mikey" may well have excited his sense of deja-vu,but,for me,it belongs in that odd category of movies I file under the heading "Curate's Egg".
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studioAT29 October 2019While I agree that this is a role that fits Michael J Fox to a tee this film sadly did not do a lot for me, and I wouldn't recommend it.
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SnoopyStyle11 March 2021Former child star Michael Chapman (Michael J. Fox) runs a talent agency with his brother Ed Chapman (Nathan Lane). Geena Briganti (Cyndi Lauper) is their secretary. Annoying little Barry Corman (David Krumholtz) is their only good earner. Michael has a run-in with sassy pickpocket Angie Vega (Christina Vidal) and decides to put her to work.
I definitely saw this back in the 90's. I recently found it again and I like it. The filmmaking is a bit clunky. This is really more like an 80's movie in terms of quality. What I truly like are the actors. There is no one more charming than Michael J. Fox. It's Christina Vidal's first film. She's a little awkward but there is real charisma behind the created sass. I like the pairing. It's not the best made or the best written movie but I like everyone in it. -
rbverhoef12 January 2003For some reason I have always liked Michael J. Fox from Family Ties and Back to the Future to Spin City and the voice of Stuart Little. That is also the reason that Life with Mikey is not a total disaster.
As a family film it is okay, but as a comedy it is nothing. Fox is nice and sometimes you can laugh about him, but that's it for the jokes. It also feels as if the movie isn't really finished. It ends kind of sudden.
5/10 is the best I can give it, but at least two points are added because of Michael J. Fox. -
AtomicAnthony20 March 2002This movie has a great summary. The Stars (Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane, David Krumholtz,) are great. It's about a casting agent trying to get a girl to star in a commercial. It has a great ending, and I recommend, that all comedy lovers watch it.
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ierenz22 September 2019In this comedy about a one-time child actor whose career has died, Michael J. Fox is poking a bit of fun at himself. Now he's an officer for a lot of precocious and lively kids. Too poor the direction and writing do not live up to the charms of Fox.
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Crowbot-223 August 2000Fox was the largest influence on me renting this, and by reading the back of the box, I wasn't expecting very much. Good thing I wasn't expecting any laughs, since this is very dull as a comedy, but I believe it makes a great family movie, based on it cuteness and morals.
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moonspinner5530 March 2008Michael J. Fox is ideally cast as former child star who now runs a talent agency for thespian tots; brother Nathan Lane and Cyndi Lauper are his assistants. This all sounds as if it can't miss; unfortunately, too much of the scenario is given over to strident Christina Vidal as a streetwise tyke whom Fox believes will be the next big thing. The two quickly lock horns, while their bantering dialogue courtesy screenwriter Marc Lawrence takes the characters and the picture to an uninteresting, formulaic finish. Most of the cast (especially Lane) is appealing, but the energy of the early scenes gives way to treacle. Slickly-produced but ultimately sitcom-stale. *1/2 from ****
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This is an underrated movie with one of Fox's most subtley comical moments. The irony was not lost watching Fox portray an ex-sitcom star. Watching Fox as a smarmy, sleazy agent was so wonderfully different from anything he had done up to that point. The movie was made for watching after sleeping in over half the day on Sunday. Also, a great turns by Nathan Lane, who I didn't recognize in the role for many years, and a young David Krumholtz who is going to ascend the throne as the next John Turturro.
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luvsbordercollie27 March 2001This movie has got to be one of the all-time lows of Michael J. Fox's generally respectable career. I should have known how awful this movie was when I rented it and found the movie only half viewed and not rewound by the previous renter. Never a good sign! Fox plays a grown up child star who's now an agent for other show business kids. His character is delusional in that he still believes that everyone should love him for being Mikey. His big break comes when he meets Angie Vega, a talented child. Vega is abrasive and not at all likeable. In fact, the only likeable character in the whole movie is Cyndi Lauper as a Brooklyn accented receptionist for the agency. One of those movies that makes me want to stick a post-it note to the box warning others not to waste their time!
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lisafordeay6 April 2023Life With Mikey is a 1993 comedy starring Michael J Fox,Nathan Lane,Christine Vidal and Cyndi Lauper. The movie tells the story of a young man named Michael Chapman(Fox) who used to be a actor. Things take a turn when he meets a young rebellious girl named Angela(Vidal) who has a record of shoplifting. Together he decides to invite her to do a commercial. But will the agency have a problem with Angela being a shoplifter?.
Overall I enjoyed this film. It was nice seeing Michael and Nathan in this film as both lend their voices in Stuart Little both the original and its sequel. If you like The Game Plan you'll like this.
David Kulochovz from The Santa Clause co stars. -
Peter T. Movie2 May 1999This isn't a bad movie. It's fun to watch for the first time. However it has absolutely no replay value at all. When you try to watch it again it gets so boring you have to turn it off. I give this movie a 6 out of 10.
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Yet another cookie-cutter movie about a hardened adult who meets an adorable, street-smart kid (Cop and 1/2, Gloria, etc). And once again, it is not funny or interesting, for anyone to watch - kids or adults. I'm sure some people might find this movie amusing, but I have no earthly idea why. Once again, I feel sorry for the poor kids who were forced to work in this movie, so that everyone else and their parents could make some bucks at the price of a cheesy cheesy movie.
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SuGa26 October 1998This movie was so incredibly boring, Michael J. Fox could've done so much better. Sorry, but it's true for all you people who liked the movie
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johnstonjames26 June 2010very good film. don't let the light touch and the cute humor fool you. this film is actually about something more relevant than it appears at first, and especially in the wake (not a pun) of child star Gary Coleman's unfortunate passing. very timely.
i've always thought Michael j Fox was an excellent actor who is capable of both humorous and serious performances. whichever the case he is always good. and despite his small stature, we know in real life he is a great man fighting a really big battle and doing big things. love the actor and the real life man.
getting back to the movie. 'Mikey' on a superficial level seems like overly light family entertainment made to appeal to the crowd that likes "celebrity family films". you know the kind of family fare that features big name stars in modest kid friendly films. movies like Sandler's 'Big Daddy' or Eddie Murphy in something like 'Daddy Day Care'. 'Mikey' is deeper and has more thoughtful subject matter than these films usually have although it doesn't try to be overt or pretentious about it.
the film covers all the bases about child actors in the media. Mikey himself is a former child actor in the film, it shows how the situation can corrupt the kid and make him greedy,it spoofs stage parents and overly precocious kids, it even makes fun of the whole "catch phrase" thing that is often popular in child star sitcoms. and it manages to do it all without becoming too preachy or depressing and cynical.
it's also great to see Cyndi Lauper in a movie role (just about her only one as far as i know). Cyndi looks great and is very likable, cute and charming. it would have been nice to see her offered more roles like Madonna was (Lauper, i always thought, was the more talented musician).
this was a fun movie and it offered genuine insights into kids (and adults for that matter), and it was a film that tells us in it's message to introspect our experiences rather than simply letting them just happen to us or control us. nice film. -
buppy25 October 1998Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane, Cyndi Lauper, and Christina Vidal star in this really, really funny movie. Michael J. Fox is Michael Chapman, a washed up actor that starred in his own television show as a child. Now he's a children's talent agent looking for that big break. Nathan Lane is his brother who's working together with Michael at Chapman & Chapman Talent Agency. Cyndi Lauper is funny with her Brooklyn accent as their secretary. Christina Vidal is Angie Vega, a wise-talking con artist who could be Michael's only break at any type of future. This movie is great and everybody in the family will enjoy this.
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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.
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mariposa-925 August 2000I've always enjoyed Michael J. Fox in "Family Ties" and this film is perfect entertainment for fans of that show.
Along with Fox, we have the cute, talented Christina Vidal Who for some reason we don't see anymore. She is perfectly poised in her scenes with Fox. And quite wonderful as we see her transform from a street-smart toughie, into this warm-hearted little girl.
All in all, great family entertainment with a great ending and a lot of good laughs. 3 out of 4 stars.