For Love or Money (1993)

Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring Michael J. Fox, Gabrielle Anwar, Anthony Higgins, Michael Tucker, Bob Balaban, Fyvush Finkel, Udo Kier, Dan Hedaya, Saverio Guerra, Paula Laurence. [PG]

Fox is a smooth-operating concierge for a swanky hotel in New York City with a dream to one day open up his own hotel, a dream that may come true if he genuflects to the demands of reprobate billionaire Higgins, which involves distracting and placating the rich man’s mistress (Anwar), a woman that Fox develops significant romantic feelings for. A missed opportunity to explore the ins and outs of up-scale hotel service (in plain view and behind the scenes), and instead focuses on a flimsy and predictable love triangle among the well-off jerk, the lovely and sweet-natured arm candy who deserves better, and the likably well-meaning sap who is, of course, the “better.” Fox’s natural charm helps, but his predicament is so stale that no amount of charisma can save it, and director Sonnenfeld doesn’t bring any of his usual visual pizzazz and cock-eyed sensibilities to the project. Scattered elements of farce might have worked if the timing was better and the characters more grounded (or else screwier).

39/100