User reviews

Sometimes, when I come home tired from work and have a brewski and want to zone out, I feel like a total fluff movie. Richi Rich fills the bill. It moves along, something most movies don't. It's harmless and doesn't require any involvement on my part. The jokes are silly. I can miss some of it on a fridge run, come back to it, and still follow it. In fact, if I don't finish the movie, it doesn't seem to matter. However, it is charming, so I usually do.

The movie pokes fun at the super rich on a superficial level, but that's all right. I'll save the harshly critical movies for a different mood. There's some lovely views of the Biltmore estate. There's light ribbing of the corporate world. Oh dear, I'm falling asleep. I'll miss the end of the movie. Too many brewskies.

This was Macaulay Culkin's first major flop, when he was finally un-cute enough that viewers noticed he couldn't act. Other than that, compared with other mindless, shallow, hopelessly far-fetched pseudo-adventures designed for either very small or very uncritical children, it's really not worse than one would expect. Well, the comic book on which it's based is not exactly Stan Lee either… From a pedagogical point of view, one must say that Richie takes control of his situation in the absence of his parents, makes decisions that are largely sensible and practical, and carries them out mostly without adult help. He combines emotional and rational qualities without violating his basic identity as a kid. To me, that's all good, and redeems the entertainment value of this movie for a young audience.

I didn't absolutely hate Richie Rich, but for me it wasn't that great either. As usual, there were some good things, but some not so good things as well.

THE GOOD THINGS:

1) Macaulay Culkin, personally I think he is better an actor than people give him credit for. He is one of the main reasons why I love the first two Home Alone movies so much. Here, he gives a very spirited lead performance, admittedly not as cute as he was when he was starring in underrated gems like Uncle Buck, but he shows once again what a talented actor he was.

2) Jonathan Hyde as the butler comes very close to stealing the show, a very funny and sly performance. Also Edward Hermann and Christine Ebersole give humorous performances, while John Larroquette plays the villain of the piece more than adequately.

3) The scenery is quite impressive, captured well by the breezy cinematography. The Biltmore estate was gorgeous.

4) The soundtrack was decent, nice background music especially.

5) I liked the moral the film taught; All the money in the world can't make you happy, thinking about it that is true.

THE NOT SO GOOD THINGS:

1) While I liked the moral of the film, the story itself is predictable and somewhat contrived. it probably doesn't help you have seen it all before.

2) The script is quite weak in general. Don't get me wrong there were some good spots like "Oh my god I look like Michael Jackson!" but the jokes are admittedly very silly and juvenile, and the scripting does fall in the danger of becoming clichéd.

3) The pacing. Now I don't mind films that move fast. I do have more of a problem if the pacing is TOO fast, despite the feel good nature of the film, and its valiant attempt to rise above superficial material, the film feels a little too rushed, the ending particularly felt skimmed over.

4) The characters feel rather stereotypical. Maybe that is an unfair complaint as it probably couldn't be avoided, but I couldn't help thinking yeah I recognise that type of character.

Overall, definitely not a bad film, worth watching at least once, but I personally didn't find it that great. 5/10 Bethany Cox

This movie - Macaulay Culkin's Last movie as a child is not his best but not his worst - that goes to the unfunny Ted Danson Action 'comedy' Getting even with dad which came out the same year- But it's pretty sickly sweet and you can see why it bombed at the Box Office. The plot concerns the richest boy in the world 'Richie Rich' Played by Culkin, But by this time he was at 14 looking too old to play the title role. He's the boy who has everything, wealthy parents lives in a big mansion has a butler (wonderfully played by Johnathan Hyde) - But he's very lonely, he has no friends. So one day he tries to join a group of inner city kids playing baseball but they don't want to know him. one of Richie's father's associates Lawrence van dough (John Larroquette) wants to get his hands on the company and the family's fortune, so he tries to kill mum and dad -Ritchie needs the other kids's help to save the company, his parents and his fortune aided by The butler.

Not a bad movie it has a very good moral story (all the money in the world can't make you happy)- But strictlty for KIDS or easily amused adults

Rating 7/10

I gave this movie a 7 on a scale of 1-10 because I took into consideration it is a kids movie and should be judged as such. When this movie came out I was 13 and of course I enjoyed it much more then as opposed to now but having watched it as a child and as an adult I do remember how much I enjoyed the film as a kid. From the harsh grade of a 4.4 average I assume people where comparing this to complex movies with great plots. Kids should not be subjected to nothing but adult theme. So when you grade the movie remember what audience it was desighned for.As a child I would have gave this movie a 7. Would you drive a metro and act as if it should perform like a porsche?

I think there are many movies made like this, probably aimed at some idea what children would like, but which will educate them as well. Money is indeed not everything, but baseball isn't

either. Most of the characters are too stereotyped to be funny. Too many movies of this kind have been made already, and I had at least hoped for some unique aspects. However, if this is the first of this kind you will see, you could be in for a great time.

Based on the comic strip of Richie Rich, this is an underrated film starring McCauley Culkin in a non Home Alone film. The co-star cast is not so bad either with John Larroquette (Dan from Night Court), Edward Hermann (voice of the History Channel) and Jonathan Hyde (Van Pelt from Jumanji). Christine Ebersole as Mrs. Rich though, was a letdown.

For an early 90s family film, it can seem flunky by standards of 2018, but it was all in fun. What kid wouldn't want to live the life of Richie Rich, or have their very own McDonald's restaurant right inside their home?

Definitely a fun film to show kids, especially if you were a fan of the film growing up. Of course, the story wasn't the best, but what do you expect. However, it's still entertaining in its own right. The sequel, a Christmas foray, is another story!

Too much given to the gee-whiz, what-can-Richie-afford, this movie needed to be much more crazy and whimsical, to fly in the face of the opulence onscreen. Good supporting cast mostly wasted.

The sole unexpected moment of delight was finding out our villain would stop at nothing to capture the "Rich family treasures", consisting of bronzed baby shoes, portraits, and favored toys & mementos.

Trip up our expectations once every few minutes, and let's talk.

By the way, how many other movie posters give away the ending?

In 1994, Macaulay Culkin stared in 3 films: 'Richie Rich', 'The Pagemaster' and 'Getting even with dad', none of them particularly interesting. The movies themselves did poorly at cinemas and in critical terms.

In 1994, Macaulay Culkin was 13/14 years old. He was in his early adolescence, so he was growing. A difficult phase for him. Ridiculously, people began to ignore him because of that - either that or they simply thought his cuteness was disappearing and gave him little value for that. But he always proved to be a terrific actor. True, there were many, many great child actors but he was one of them for sure. Sure, his cuteness took him far, but it was his talent that made him a legend.

After playing a completely different role in the 1993 film 'The Good Son' (where he played a psychopath that could very well disguise that nature thanks to his angelical looks, a wolf in sheep's clothe), he returned to the roles of 'good guys' in all of his 1994 films.

'Richie Rich' is not much of a film, but perhaps it's a little more interesting than 'The Pagemaster'. It's not a bad movie, but it's a somewhat complex film for me to give a fair rating. It has good moments but also very stupid moments, particularly from the 2nd half on (in my opinion, where the movie is at its weakest).

Macaulay Culkin plays the title character. Richie Rich is rich (like his name suggests), lives in a fancy mansion surrounded by comfort and luxury and can even count with a chauffeur that takes him in his majestic and elegant Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud whenever it's necessary. But Richie realizes that there is one thing that money can't buy: happiness. He feels the lack of friends and possibly bored with his tedious life. He just wants to be like the other kids.

About the things I found funny in this film, a good example of that is the line «Oh my God, I look like Michael Jackson!» by Richie's mother. Come to think of it... that's not untrue - lol. I'm surprised they put this line in the film because Macaulay Culkin stars in it and considering the friendship he had with the eccentric singer... Other funny details are, for example, the cute dog that has dollar signs instead of spots and appropriately named Dollar, and the scene when Richie doesn't wanna wake up but stares at his personal trainer when he realizes what a beauty she is (she is portrayed by the supermodel Claudia Schiffer).

Macaulay Culkin had everything to be a great name of the cinema. And he was, for a few years, mostly thanks to the success of the first two 'Home Alone' films. He was talented, charismatic and good-looking. Too bad he trashed his life later, but I believe he turned out to be like this because of his personal problems.

"Richie Rich" is a delightful romp that delivers exactly what it promises: a fun, light-hearted adventure perfect for kids, with just enough adult-themed innuendoes to keep parents entertained. Starring Macaulay Culkin as the titular character, the film follows the world's richest kid as he navigates the ups and downs of his opulent life. While it's not the kind of movie you'd expect to sweep the awards circuit, "Richie Rich" excels in providing a charming and entertaining experience for its target audience. The film's whimsical gadgets and over-the-top scenarios are sure to captivate young viewers, while the clever nods to adult humor ensure that parents won't be left out of the fun. The performances, particularly by Culkin, are endearing and bring a sense of warmth to the otherwise extravagant setting. The supporting cast, including Edward Herrmann and Christine Ebersole as Richie's loving parents, add depth to the story, making it more than just a series of comedic set pieces. "Richie Rich" may not be a cinematic masterpiece, but it's a delightful family film that offers plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments. It's a perfect pick for a family movie night, where both kids and adults can find something to enjoy.

This is definitely teen fare, but it's very entertaining which means adults would get a lot of laughs out of it. As with any comedy, some of the stuff is really stupid and some of it is really funny. Along the way, you get some of modern Hollywood's secular plugs and a few swear words that you wouldn't want your little ones to hear, but overall, I have little to criticize with this one.

There were a number of sight gags, things that made me laugh out loud, such as dollar signs instead of spots on the dog, the dress-ware of the little rich kid (Macauley Culkin), the eccentric characters - good and bad guys - are all fun to watch.

I thought Jonathan Hyde, as the butler, stole the show.

I don't know why it has such a low rating. The movie does not want to be taken serious. So it is not serious. The movie is aimed at kids and that makes it great. I watched it in my early twenties and had a good evening watching the movie. Great for family's and kids.

Richie Rich stars the charismatic, easily-lovable Macaulay Culkin in a role that basically begged for him from the first day of pre-production. Unfortunately, nothing else begged much attention in terms of how Richie Rich conducts itself as a piece of family entertainment. Is it serviceable? Absolutely. Just prepare for a rather long and tedious ninety-four minutes. Kids will appreciate it, seeing their favorite hero from Home Alone getting into more hairy little circumstances, but the true victims, the parents, will likely be contemplating better things they could be doing with their time.

Make no mistake; I was enjoying Richie Rich for about forty-five minutes on a simply, passable level. Then at the hour mark, I grew restless, and by the finale, I was shaking my head at the missed opportunity the film could've capitalized on. I'll come back to this later. The story is inspired from the comic-book character who made quite the name for himself in books and strips that I never found myself reading. He is played by Macaulay Culkin, who was born to Richard and Regina Rich (Edward Herrmann and Christine Ebersole), a couple worth a dollar over $70 billion thanks to their immensely successful Rich Industries. The three live in a house that appears to be sitting two full-size golf courses, and embrace their wealthy status in the way of philanthropy, and not personal narcissism.

While Richie enjoys living a lavish life, traveling in helicopters, playing basketball in doors, and carrying thousand-dollar bills in his wallet, he greatly envies the lives of regular, middle-class children, who have very little priorities and can spend their days playing baseball in an open sandlot.

With this kind of setup, you'd think the film would be on the track of setting up a "lonely rich boy" sort of moral, emphasizing that all the money in the world can't buy true, wholesome companionship, right? Well, just as we're about to further dive into that, a pesky plot point involving corruption, attempted-murder, and industry takeover begins to plague the Rich family, and with rumor that his parents are dead after a nice pack of TNT was on their private plane, Richie assumes the role as the CEO of the company. But just as we're about to go further into that detail, we focus on one of Richard Rich's employees, who tried to murder the couple and their kid to take over Rich Industries for himself. Not if Richie and his loyal butler Herbert Cadbury (Jonathan Hyde) can help it, though.

Right off the bat, we just passed up two solid directions this film could've taken instead of the contrived, foreseeable one it settled on. Yet if there's one thing that can't be overlooked about this film, it's the abundance of character-actors, who all do a capable job of doing what they can with what they have - especially Macaulay Culkin. Culkin's gifted, easy-going performance makes one sad that this was his last "big" film as a child actor, before landing roles in several under-performing independent films before fading into tabloid obscurity.

Co-writer of Richie Rich Neil Tolkin worked on License to Drive, a potent, lively comedy about a teen and his two friends going out after hours in his grandfather's Cadillac even after failing his driver's test. After that, he settled for very little doing both Richie Rich and the atrocious Pauly Shore comedy Jury Duty a year later. When glancing through director Donald Petrie's filmography, it appears that he has made a career out of making spur-of-the-moment comedies that usually do fairly well at the box office before becoming safe-bets on cable. He has a formula and he should stick to it. It's just sort of upsetting that Richie Rich aspires to be functional, rather than successful.

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Edward Herrmann, Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Hyde, and John Larroquette. Directed by: Donald Petrie.

Richie Rich (Macaulay Culkin) is the most valuable possession of his billionaire parents (Edward Herrmann, Christine Ebersole). He has everything and loyal butler Herbert Cadbury (Jonathan Hyde). However he doesn't have regular friends of his own age. Professor Keenbean is the company scientist with his many inventions. Company executive Lawrence Van Dough (John Larroquette) opposes Mr. Rich's plan to give away a tool plant and spending on inventions. He also lust for whatever is hidden in the family vault. Richie makes friends with kids playing baseball at an industrial lot. Richie's parents are lost at sea when their plane is brought down by a bomb. Van Dough battles Richie who owns 51% share of the company.

Richie Rich is a bad comic to make into a movie. I don't know what kind of problems Richie Rich has to overcome. It seems like a comic about a kid and his toys. The movie isn't cartoon fun. It does actually has some limited thrills. The characters are good for the most part. The mix of children's comic and real action don't always coexist easily. It's not that terrible but it doesn't really feel joyous.

Easy to watch and follow, quick-paced and likeable characters. It's a good show to watch with your younger kids.

Yes, I am not a member of his fan club and for the most part I hate nearly everything he was in. My favorite scene with him is the one in "The Good Son" involving the cliff. I had a nice laugh with that one. Here there is no such scene and the film might as well be called "Home Alone 3: this time the kids rich!" as it has almost the same premise. Granted the parents did not really leave him, but rather got into an airplane crash, but it is essentially the same as that brat is in this one too. So the story is the kid is lonely and tries to make friends, parents disappear after a plane crash, some dude is trying to get all the money for himself and there is no robot like there was in the original cartoon still trying to debate if that is a bad or good thing. All I know is that the film for the most part is cringe worthy, but as I have said I can not stand Macualay at all so I am going to tend to be against anything he is in. I did not like "Uncle Buck", "Home Alone" or any of the movies he has been in. Except for said scene, ah yes plunge to your death you spoiled sack of...ahem, the only reason I give this movie a two is that there was a joke in it that actually got me to laughing involving this laser or something blowing a chunk out of a stone statue. Other than that, barf.

I know, "Richie Rich" is supposed to be more about making friends than about wealth, but it doesn't work. The whole thing about the cabal trying to seize his money was merely an excuse for what was basically a glorification of money. I think that there's a reason that Macaulay Culkin disappeared after this movie (although that was already coming). There are some clever lines - namely the Michael Jackson comment - but there are plenty of good movies out there, so there's NO REASON to waste your time on this. Also starring John Larroquette, Edward Herrmann, Christine Ebersole and Jonathan Hyde; they probably don't wish to include this on their resumes.

One may wonder if this was even acting, considering Kevin ... I'm sorry I mean Macauly Culkin, was on the top of his game. On a throne of sorts after the Home alone movies that made him. This was going to show a different side to him. I guess and he is rather likeable in this one. I assumed we would get an obnoxious rich kid, but the pressing matters lie elsewhere.

So he may be a bit (a lot?) spoiled, but he also knows right from wrong. Which I reckon has a lot to do with his personal servant. Political correctness aside, the movie can be fun. Just let its silliness run through you and all will be well. It also has not aged that badly I have to admit

While 1994 was a great year to be Green Day or The Offspring, this was not so for the young Macaulay Culkin and his fans. As a 14 year old playing the younger 12 year "richest kid in the world", Culkin and his management must have realized quickly that he could not stay a child actor forever. Richie Rich, therefore became Culkin's last major project until his return to film as a 23-year-old young adult in 2003's Party Monster.

In "Rich", no actor is in top form. The laughs were too few and too far between, especially for a family comedy. The post-Jurassic Park CGI "robot bee" may have even been a hindrance rather than a creative flourish. None of the characters were developed beyond the simple caricatures we'd expect and further stripped of comedic potential. By the time the antagonist breaks into the vault, anyone over the age of 17 probably knew what was inside; that is if they hadn't already stopped paying attention and fallen asleep.

Had the film starred another adolescent lead, we may have been forgiving, but the overall quality of this venture paled in comparison with the Culkin we knew from Uncle Buck, the Home Alone pictures, My Girl, and even his brief appearance in Michael Jackson's 9 minute "Black or White" rampage. Being that it was filmed in and around the Chicagoland area, and that this reviewer is a sucker for anything local, this reviewer feels generous giving Richie Rich 4 out of 10 IMDb stars.

Great movie, edited well and entertaining. Jonathan Hyde's acting is fantastic.

The stage curtains open ...

"What we need, is a diversion. This is a combination of laundry detergent, dish washing detergent, and bubble bath. I call it ... Sudsational."

The comic book, billionaire boy, Richie Rich, comes to life in this feel-good family film, where greed leads to a bad end, and friends lead to happiness. Riding the success of the Home Alone movies, it only made sense to cast the most popular child actor of the time, Macaulay Culkin. Richie Rich would turn out to be his final child actor role as he wouldn't make another film until 9 years later. There were some other familiar characters as well (if you've ever read the comic books) with the family butler and Richie's protector, Cadbury, Richie's friend, Gloria, and his ever trustworthy dog companion, Dollar. There was even a scene with the spoiled, rotten kid, Reginald.

Growing up in the Rich home gave young Richie all the comforts of life, but he still felt something was missing. One day he sees other kids his age playing baseball, and he realizes what is missing in his life - he doesn't have any friends. In his efforts to reach out to them, he finds out that sometimes being rich isn't always a good thing. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the Chief Financial Officer of his Dad's company, is plotting to kill the family so that he can be next in line for the family's money. He is desperately searching for the rumoured family vault that is said to contain their most valuable riches.

I'd forgotten about this movie, until a friend of mine mentioned he was watching it. I decided to find it and watch it as well. I'd seen it before way back when it first came out, and I remember liking it. I had a lot of fun seeing it again tonight as well. If you need a light-hearted, feel-good movie to help take your mind off of the worries of the world for 95 minutes, this is a good one to watch and enjoy. It has appropriate levels of humor, action, and danger.

I had a lot of fun watching Richie Rich. It really did take me back to a good time in my life. It put me in the mood to dig up some more of the films featuring Macaulay Culkin, and revisiting them again - especially the Home Alone films, wich are among my favorites. I would definitely recommend this movie to both younger and older alike. There is something in there for everyone. A nice retreat that will bring a smile to your face.