Sinbad To The Rescue

O. Henry called it “The Ransom of Red Chief”: Childishly inept kidnappers fall prey, and comically so, to the young hellion whom they have abducted.

It’s a grand old story, and it has served Hollywood well in recent times: Filmmaker Eric Red changed the kidnappers to mob hit men and called it “Cohen and Tate” (1988). A 1994 twist changed the crooks into exasperated Secret Service agents and the kid into a cranky former first lady and called the result “Guarding Tess.”

Now comes “First Kid,” a superficial recycling that would be a whole lot less fun if just about anyone but Sinbad were in the leading role. The robust comedian is almost singlehandedly worth the price of admission; the rest is as disposable as a popcorn bag.

Sinbad, a stand-up veteran who’s still pretty new to the movies, takes his name from the Arabian Nights’ legendary trickster and lives up to it. He has made strong roles for himself in movies that have allowed him little elbow room (1991’s “Necessary Roughness”), and he came near saving “House Guest” (1995) from its own passive bigotry by cannily refusing to play to that film’s glib stereotypes.

Sinbad’s Secret Serviceman Sam Simms in “First Kid” is no Clint Eastwood (see ‘93’s “In the Line of Fire”), but rather a playful sort who defies the dress code, concocts elaborate scams to obtain free doughnuts, and cannot wait to land White House duty. The president’s son (played almost too convincingly by “Mighty Ducks” survivor Brock Pierce) is a scowling little nuisance.

Tim Kelleher’s screenplay is topheavy with shenanigans but still allows Sinbad to perform some urgent heroic business. Mainly, the star’s task is to relate on a brotherly level to juvenile lead Pierce, draw him out of that shell of hostility, and make with the wisecracks and pratfalls. Director David Mickey Evans indulges Sinbad at every turn - often at the expense of the story - with generous set-pieces and clever upstagings, including a very funny scene-within-a-scene involving a snake.

Completing the dysfunctional first family are James Naughton and Lisa Eichhorn, whose characters really should get their parental skills up to speed before they attempt to run the country. Robert Guillaume blusters through a grumpy senior-agent role as if auditioning for a Victorian melodrama. Bob Child does a memorable takeoff on Don Knotts as a self-important shopping-mall security cop.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: “First Kid” Locations: Lincoln Heights, Lyons and Showboat cinemas Credits: Directed by David Mickey Evans, starring Sinbad, Robert Guillaume, Timothy Busfield, Brock Pierce Running time: 1:34 Rating: PG