Strike when the iron’s hot is the mantra of most in the movie business, especially when it comes to the talent on screen, a hot new name often rushed and shoehorned into other productions of a similar sort to take advantage of the rising star power of the actor or actress. Such was the case for young Macaulay Culkin, who had already made some memorable appearances on film before he struck gold with 1990’s Home Alone and then found himself in the four years following, cast in a string of titles meant to capitalize on his famous mischievous take on Kevin McCallister. No one can blame him or the studios, I suppose. He was good at it and audiences loved him. But by 1994, thirteen movies in seven years, he was ready for a break and a return to a normal life, and for his final “kid” role, ended up in a part with a similar theme. It’s Richie Rich.
Based on the Harvey Comics comic book series (1953) of the same name, the 1994 Donald Petrie-directed film is a spirited if not particularly faithful adaptation with Culkin in the title role. It almost unabashedly taps into the Home Alone formula with a kid left without his parents using gadgets and trickery to befuddle a ruthless schemer out to get the family money, but it does so with a genuine zeal for fun and laughs that works most of the time, even if it isn’t all that clever.
The story sees Richie living in the lap of luxury, literally the richest kid in the world having anything and everything he needs at his every whim, including baseball legend Reggie Jackson providing pitching tips and supermodel Claudia Schiffer giving daily exercise routines. He has his own McDonald’s in the house, a world class roller coaster in his backyard, and gets to school in a helicopter. What more could he ask for. Well, real friends, and those are hard to come by. While his parents (Edward Herrmann and Christine Ebersole) truly love and support him, they don’t have the time or understanding of what their only child needs, leaving him in the hands of his personal butler Herbert Cadbury (Jonathan Hyde), who does his best to care for the child.
When the family’s trusted CEO Lawrence Van Dough (John Larroquette) comes up with a plan to kill off the family and steal the company fortunes, it’s up to Richie to save his mom and dad and become the true heir to the riches that the Rich’s hold dear (say that three times). He does with the help of some local kids who he befriends and the wizardry of Professor Keenbean (Mike McShane), whose wacky inventions make the difference in stopping evil. Bedpans or bowling balls? It’s not as easy as it looks.
While the film was a box office disappointment and most critics were pretty harsh, it’s actually aged fairly well, an innocent, lightweight throwback to the 90s that is delightfully free of way over the top action and special effects and keeps the role of Richie a well grounded kid with a simple and identifiable motivation. Sure, it gets a little silly by the end with finale and homage of sorts for the Alfred Hitchcock classic North By Northwest, but retains a playful absurdity about it that is fun to watch.
Culkin isn’t exactly lighting up the screen, but he’s well cast as a kid who doesn’t know how to fit in with children his own age, an awkwardness about him that in this role works just right. The real stars are the adults, with McShane’s very funny take on the basement dwelling screwball scientist and Hyde’s charmingly heartwarming spin on the snooty butler. Every time these guys are on screen, the movie picks up, even when faced with the eye-rolling escape from jail sequences that makes no sense.
I think what I liked most about Richie Rich is its persistent, upbeat message that never gets all that muddled in the excesses that Petrie very nearly allows to overtake the story. Richie just wants his family back but wants also to be the kid he deserves to be, not needing to abandon his wealth but experience the growth and kindness of sharing time with children who like him for who he is. It’s sweet and convincing. I wish there were more of it that maybe children watching could have learned from. The message is there but the execution is sort of blundered by the final act.
There are certainly other weaknesses, most especially the blatant in-movie promotion of McDonald’s, which never feels right no matter the production, but here, just reeks of sponsorship. Yuck. And then there’s the “fat” kid named Pee-Wee (Jonathan Hilario) who is always eating and does nothing but “get laughs” because he’s always eating. Yawn. And lastly, even though it’s a kid’s movie, the “main” plot of the parent’s disappearance and the nasty betrayal behind it just aren’t interesting and could have been removed entirely, concentrating only on Richie’s growth. Seriously. Watch this movie and tell me that that the movie wouldn’t have been better if they just got rid of the bad guy.
No matter, with a rousing and energetic score from Alan Silvestri, fast-paced direction with several great visuals (the kid-a-pult for one) and a terrific set (filmed at the famous Biltmore Estate), there’s a lot to like about this this brisk adaptation. While Culkin is typecast and wedged once again into the same old role, the film remains one of his better child performances. Well worth a return visit.