Richie Rich (1994)

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.