The Kid Detective is certainly one of the most underrated comedy movies of last year. With some of the most bluntly written jokes ever in a movie, if you choose to watch The Kid Detective, you will be in for an exciting ride. Moreover, do not be confused by the title of the movie. We assure you, the film is about anything but a kid! The Kid Detective was released at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020. The theatrical release happened worldwide at different times of the year. The movie was written and directed by Evan Morgan. It stars Adam Broy, Sophie Nelisse, Tzi Ma, Wendy Crewson, and Sarah Sutherland in the lead roles. We will tell you everything you need to know about The Kid Detective but let us warn you of the major spoilers ahead!
The story revolves around the life of Abe Applebaum. Abe is a child prodigy and local hero at 12 years old. He lives in a small town called Willowbrook and goes around solving small mysteries and cases. However, one day, his close friend Gracie Gulliver goes missing. Regardless of Abe joining hands with the forces to carry out an extensive investigation around Gracie’s disappearance, he is unable to find her. This leaves him traumatized completely.
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The Kid Detective Synopsis
After the ordeal that Abe goes through at 12, he doesn’t really grow up to be the most successful man. He has his own detective agency, but he is struggling to keep in business. Moreover, there is a ‘dire lack of respect’ in his life. Willingly, Abe chooses to abuse drugs and alcohol. This is when he gets a new case. And this could turn out to be the light at the end of the tunnel that Abe was in for the last 20 years.
Caroline is a high school student whose boyfriend, Patrick Chang was murdered. She is determined to find out what happened to Patrick and get him justice. She approaches Abe to ask for help with the investigation. Abe has never taken up a murder case before and hence, sees this as the opportunity to prove himself to everyone yet again. He decides to take the case up for free.
Interestingly, taking up this case is turning out to be one of the best decisions of Abe’s life. When he starts the investigation, he finds out certain things that Patrick had hidden from Caroline. Turns out that the dead boy was part of a drug racket and involved with an older girl called Melody. Moreover, his friend Calvin was in love with Caroline.
Abe makes a breakthrough when he realizes that Caroline received a series of origami art before Patrick was murdered. Abe recalls that Gracie, too received something similar right before her disappearance. He also learns of the mistake he made as a child by accusing someone of theft when they were innocent. Abe is finally able to deduce that the person behind Patrick’s death and Gracie’s disappearance is the same – the high school principal, Erwin.
The Kid Detective Ending Explained
In the midst of the thickening plot, the makers do not fail to add several elements of hilarity. Undeniably, this movie is one of the most well-articulated pieces of work in the dark comedy genre. As the movie is about to reach its climax, we find out that Erwin was actually obsessed with Gracie. He had actually plotted the whole school theft incident to check whether he can carry out his plan without getting caught. Caroline was Gracie’s daughter with Erwin, a result of the latter’s sexual assault on the former. She had left her in church after giving birth.
Erwin had actually managed to find a lewd picture of Melody in Patrick’s car. However, he thought it was Caroline and was furious at Patrick for his daughter losing her innocence. When Erwin realizes he killed someone over a misunderstanding, he decides to kill himself. Later, Abe also finds Gracie is still alive and locked away in one of Erwin’s yards.
As the movie ends, we see Abe finally restoring his lost glory. However, he is anything but okay mentally and emotionally. At the end of the movie, we see him breaking down in front of his parents from the trauma that the latest events have left behind.
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