Review of My Kid Could Paint That (2007) by Angie S — 23 Apr 2008

An interesting tale of Marla (a sweet, but shy, 4-year-old), her family, and how their lives are affected by her rise to fame within the art world. I enjoyed the film well enough, but can think of any number or ways it could have been better.

Ultimately I think the film falls short because of a lack of personal vision by the film-maker, Amir Bar-Lev. Perhaps his closeness to his film subjects clouded his ability or maybe he has yet to develop the vision necessary to have his film engage the audience at a deep level.

I can't really say, but I can say that this film did not provide me with enough information to answer any of the questions it raised... Are Marla's paintings worthy of the title fine art? Are her paintings works of her own creation completely? Were her parents wrong in exposing her and their family to the media? I do have an opinion on each of these questions, but really feel the film does not provide enough information to truly answer any of them.

My recommendation to those interested in this film is watch the preview and if it appeals to you, give it a shot.