Richie Rich (1994)

Directed by Donald Petrie. Starring Macaulay Culkin, Jonathan Hyde, Edward Herrmann, Christine Ebersole, Michael McShane, John Larroquette, Chelcie Ross, Mariangela Pino, Stephi Lineburg, Joel Robinson, Michael Maccarone, Jonathan Hilario. [PG]

Big screen adaptation of the comic book world’s “poor little rich boy,” the only child of fabulously wealthy parents who has no real friends of his own. Flimsy plot involves little Richie’s efforts to find companionship with “regular kids” and an attempt by greedy CFO Larroquette to steal the family fortune. Star vehicle for Culkin (and final child actor role, as he’d disappear from feature films for almost a decade after this); it’s innocuous kids’ stuff, not worth a second look for adults (or first). Playing the family’s stuffy but loyal butler, Hyde comes closest to generating a character worth spending an hour-and-a-half with. Shot in part at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. Reggie Jackson and Claudia Schiffer play themselves in cameos. “Followed” by a direct-to-video sequel without any of the original cast (Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish).

40/100