‘Star Kid’ Is Transformed by Cybersuit

“Star Kid” comes up with a fresh gimmick for the new boy in middle school, you know, the one who is menaced by the usual schoolyard bully and who is tongue-tied when he tries to speak to the prettiest girl in class. The result is a pleasing diversion for youngsters sparked by a winning portrayal by Joseph Mazzello in the title role.

Just when the morale of Mazzello’s 12-year-old Spencer is lowest, he sees from his bedroom window what he thinks is a meteor crashing into a car junkyard not too far from his family’s large old suburban home. But the meteor turns out to be none other than the robotic Cy the Cybersuit. Cy, who could have been created from a mold of Arnold Schwarzenegger, has glassy green eyes but develops a kindly expression. Once Spencer dons the suit, he becomes an instant Superman. Cy has such a roomy interior that Spencer is able to keep up a dialogue with Cy, who speaks to Spencer from the back side of his face. (This is not as weird as it sounds.)

In any event Cy proves to be no hollow man, and as Spencer humanizes Cy, the robot in turn gives Spencer friendship and encouragement, along with powers that verge on the Kryptonic. Where writer-director Manny Coto has been inspired is in having Cy need Spencer even more than the boy needs him, for there’s an urgent reason why Cy has turned up on Earth.

Corinne Bohrer makes a special impression as the kind of teacher we all wish we’d had when we were in seventh grade. Alex Daniels as Cybersuit and Arthur Burghardt, who provides Cy’s voice, are also top-notch.

As a special-effects film, “Star Kid” is serviceable, with the creation of Cy its key accomplishment. It has an overly cluttered look, but it has a lovely Nicholas Pike score and lots of heart, which is what matters most.

* MPAA rating: PG, for fantasy conflict, combat violence and language. Times guidelines: The fantasy conflict, combat violence and language are not too intense for all but toddlers.

‘Star Kid’

Joseph Mazzello: Spencer Griffith

Alex Daniels: Cybersuit

Arthur Burghardt: Cybersuit Voice

Corinne Bohrer: Janet Holloway

A Trimark Pictures presentation. Writer-director Manny Coto. Producer Jennie Lew Tugend. Executive producer Mark Amin. Cinematographer Ronn Schmidt. Special make-up effects by Thomas R. Burman & Bari Dreiband-Burman. Visual effects supervisor Thomas C. Rainone. Editor Bob Ducsay. Costumes Ileane Meltzer. Music Nicholas Pike. Production designer C.J. Strawn. Art director Michael D. Welch. Set decorator Irina Rivera. Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes.

* In general release throughout Southern California.