Richie Rich (1994)
6/10
Starring
Macaulay
Culkin
John
Larroquette
Edward
Herrmann
Jonathan
Hyde
Christine
Ebersole
Directed
by Donald Petrie
The whole film is a nostalgia fest
for me. While it’s not fantastic and may not become the go-to film for family
fun today on a Sunday, it holds a special place in the heart’s of 90s kids like
me. As my friends were smiling as we watched and lived through the feeling of
the first time we first saw this film and wished to be this rich. Watching it
again after twenty-nine years brought back childhood smiles, especially seeing
Macaulay Culkin in action.
For a movie made in 1994, the
special effects were decent. The bee flight and control sequences, in
particular, looked impressive for the time and added charm to the film.
However, the story itself is quite shallow. It transitions quickly from
introducing the Rich family and their son Richie struggling to fit in, to the
sudden disappearance of Richie’s parents.
The film offers a childlike view of
how kids might perceive wealth and social status. Based on a comic of the same
name by Alfred Harvey and Warren Kremer, it introduces us to the Rich family the
wealthiest in the world and their son Richie, who is the richest boy in the
world. Despite his wealth, Richie feels lonely and friendless. His loyal
butler, Cadbury, takes him to the park, where Richie plays ball with other kids
and impresses them with his skills.
When the Rich family plans a trip,
Cadbury persuades Richie’s parents to let him stay behind to combat his
loneliness. Cadbury even invites the park kids over to the mansion, where they
all have a great time. Meanwhile, on the plane, Richie’s parents discover a
bomb. Though they manage to dispose of it, the explosion damages the plane, and
they are declared dead. This leaves Richie in a position where he must navigate
his new life alone (with the help of Cadbury and his new park friends), dealing
with a scheming CFO eager to take control, and clearing Cadbury’s name after he
is framed for the bombing.
What I liked most about the film was
Richie’s journey of opening himself up to others and finding happiness through
friendship rather than wealth. While the acting wasn’t Oscar-worthy, it was
goofy enough to bring smiles and make kids dream about living Richie’s life.
That said, the film doesn’t hold the
same appeal today. Modern kids, exposed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and
Transformers, might find this type of comedy outdated. Back in the 90s, though,
films like Richie Rich and Home Alone were staples of Sunday
movie nights.
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