Plot: What’s it about?
Richie Rich (Macaulay Culkin) has lived a life of luxury and has never wanted, as his family has millions upon millions of dollars. He wears the finest clothes, he has all the latest toys, including ones normal kids could only dream of. In other words, whatever Richie wants, he can have, or at least that is the case with material goods and the like. But even with cool gadgets, the hottest toys, and all the little luxuries a person could want, Richie finds himself looking for someone to share his wealth with. The other rich kids are too stuck up, so he demands to be dropped off at a sandlot in a run down area, to meet some real kids. At first, he is looked on with doubt, as if a rich kid couldn’t be cool, but he soon has some new friends. He’ll need friends too, as an advisor plans to knock off Richie’s parents, then take over the vast fortune. When the time comes to prove that he can handle himself and put a plan into motion, can he save his parents? He will need all of his own intelligence and gadgets, plus the help of his friends, maybe even more. As his parents hang in the balance, can Richie uses his resources to save the day, or is he just another spoiled rich kid?
The world of comic books is best known for epic battles between high powered heroes and vicious villains, but those aren’t the only kind of comics out there. At one point, numerous comics could be purchased that were aimed at the children’s market, titles such as Casper, Archie, and of course, Richie Rich. I loved the over the top stories from the older Richie Rich comics, from the short one gag spots to the more involved, but still humorous full length stories. So when a movie was to be made, I expected the same kind of themes, high end, over the top gadgets, epic adventures, and lots of humorous dialogue. The casting even made sense, with Macaulay Culkin in the title role, a natural choice. But in the end, the filmmakers settled for a basic, no frills approach, one which removed almost all the fun, over the top madness of the comic book. The film still holds decent appeal to those in search of family friendly fare, but fans of the comic are sure to be disappointed. Some laughs can be had, but the cool gadgets and emphasis on the frivolous lifestyle of Richie are lost here. Warner’s disc looks and sounds good, but the extras are skid row, almost none. If you’re in need of a passable movie for the kids, then Richie Rich is worth a rental, but one time should be enough.
Video: How does it look?
Richie Rich is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a good, solid effort from Warner and fans should be pleased. The print is clean, with only minor nicks and debris, while grain is never an issue. The colors come across as bright and crisp, with no signs of errors, while flesh tones remain natural throughout. I found contrast to be well balanced, so black levels have a smooth and refined appearance. There is some softness evident in this presentation, but detail is solid and never dips too low. So this might not be a dazzling visual treatment, but all the bases are more than covered here.
Audio: How does it sound?
A new Dolby Digital 5.1 surround option is found here, but this material doesn’t allow for much dynamic presence. Yes, the dialogue is clear and never hard to understand, while sound effects are crisp and well placed, but all these elements remain anchored in the front channels, which limits dynamic presence. A spark or two of surround use is evident, but not much and not enough to make for a memorable experience. The football scenes are the most active, but even then, don’t expect too much. Even so, it all sounds solid and as such, I can’t see complaining too much here. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
