The wild life of a New York party promoter is turned upside down by the unexpected arrival of the young son he never know of in writer-director Jordan Firstman’s comedy-drama Club Kid.
A prodigy amongst us
by Chris Drew
4 stars
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
Opening on a big New York night out we meet Peter (Jordan Firstman, Rotting in the Sun) and his crew barrelling into the club night he promotes for a wild night of dancing, drugs and sex.
After escaping unexpected attention from Briton Leonara (Paris Petitjean, feature debut), Peter is later hooking up in the dark room. Leonara appears and the guy Peter is with wants to watch him have sex with her as they disappear into the darkness.
Jumping roughly 10 years later and Peter is still an active club promoter on the scene with a low-key drug-selling side hustle.
Sharing his apartment with self-proclaimed ‘aspiring queer philosopher’ Nicky (Eldar Isgandarov (The Debut), Peter gets up late in the afternoon, watches porn, uses hook-up apps and repeatedly misses calls.
When Peter arrives exhausted and far from sober to a meeting with investors, business partner Sophie (Cara Delevingne, Her Smell) is furious. Wanting to expand their club event into a brand says says she’ll do it on her own.
Getting home Peter is stunned to find Nicky with Briton Edison (Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Cruella) and a boy Arlo (Reggie Absolol) who he is told is his son.
Edison explains, to a flabbergasted Peter, that Arlo is the son of Leonara who committed suicide the week before and had made Edison promise she would take Arlo to him if anything ever happened to her.
Casually saying “you get a kid and he’s good to go, just a bit of trauma” Edison leaves, ignoring Peter’s protests, for ‘maybe two hours’.
Taking Arlo for pizza, the 10 year-old is immediately sick due to a dairy intolerance and they set off to find Edison. Peter is immediately caring, asking Arlo to take his hand going into a party and telling him not to look at anything. The search is in vain when they discover Edison has returned to London.
Forced to stay together, Peter is impressed with Arlo’s musical tastes – Cocteau Twins and Massive Attack.
When his friends suddenly group arrive for a pre-party, telling them “don’t talk about dicks or drugs”, Arlo asks if they are trans, saying he loves dolls.
The group tell Peter to go to his own party and amusingly push him to allow them to ‘cancel’ Sophie, a move that has later repercussions.
Peter and Arlo bond one night with Arlo telling him he knows how his mum died, Peter says it’s ok to be sad, sharing that he has no self-esteem.
They make a shared playlist they can each add to and Peter shows his desire to change by writing in his notes app “no more drugs, they do not feel good, not good for Arlo”.
Arlo seems quite well-adjusted, considering the circumstances he has been through, so wisely the film gives him some anger issues – an aggressive fight in the park – to show not all is well.
This leads to Arlo having counselling with handsome Oscar (Diego Calva, Babylon) who catches Peter’s eye and the two are soon texting each other.
Arlo learns DJ skills from Saffron (Saturn Risin9, feature debut), and quickly it’s decided he’ll will do opening set as ‘Night Shift’ at Peter’s new venue. The crowd love it and both it’s another bonding moment for Peter and Arlo.
Peter meets Oscar and, while they clearly have chemistry, Oscar claims it is not a date although it is not long before sparks fly between the pair.
When Arlo’s next DJ set is delayed and a worried Peter is uncomfortable with Arlo seeing the crowd getting high and the party is intensifying. He briefly loses Arlo when trying to get out of the party and Sophie spots them leaving.
Later, Sophie regretfully admits that in anger she contacted the authorities, leading to a tearful farewell as Arlo is hastily swept back to England and Peter is supported by lawyer Lydia (Vicki Pepperdine, Poor Things).
In court, Peter talks movingly of Arlo’s wisdom and him being the first person to something good in him. But after proof of his drug sales is discovered, custody is awarded to a friend of Leonara’s and Peter is told it would be best for a period of no contact with Arlo.
A year later Peter has enrolled in school and is working in a bar. He is told Arlo’s birthday wish was a phone call and Peter battles to hold it together while they talk. He signs off “love you, buddy” and falls into Oscar’s arms.
In the final moments, Peter sees a party taking place but carries on walking down the street.
With a father and son thrown together and then bonding, Club Kid could be seen as a 21st-century gay Kramer vs Kramer, adding comedy and minus the divorce.
Firstman’s New York scene appears authentic and the characters fit naturally into the party scene.
As Peter, Firstman is believably messy and chaotic but ultimately sweet and easy to root for. He and Absolom have excellent chemistry and are well cast, sharing exactly the same mop of curls.
As Oscar, Diego Calva’s feels a little underdeveloped. He is very touching in one of the climactic scenes but is more of an attractive cipher showing the possibility of a happy future for Peter rather than a fully formed character.
Naturally Cara Delevingne fits right into the party scene as messy frenemy Sophie, while amongst the queer squad of friends, Saturn Risin9 stands out as Saffron bringing a relaxed cool energy.
Isgandarov is a real highlight as Nicky. He has many of the films biggest laughs and funniest moments. Along with The Debut, the newcomer from Baku is having a fantastic breakout moment.
Club Kid is a very funny and ultimately touching story about unexpected connection and finding yourself which marks Firstman as a real talent to be excited about.
