Brewster's Millions Movie Review

A guilty pleasure from my childhood, Brewster's Millions is based on an ancient novel. In fact, it's at least the fifth adaptation of the old novel by the same name -- only the spending money is more and more each time.

What money is that? Oh, just $30 million, left to Montgomery Brewster (Richard Pryor) by his sole relative. The catch? The real inheritance is $300 million -- and if Monty wants it, he has to spend the $30 million in 30 days, and at the end of that time he can't have any assets to show for it. Oh, and he can't tell anyone what's going on, either.

Monty's antics are appropriately silly of a 1985 rated-PG comedy, Pryor's presence notwithstanding. He throws a ton of parties. He stages an exhibition game between the minor league team he plays for and the New York Yankees. He buys a $1.25 million stamp and mails it. Eventually he runs for political office but begs people not to vote for him.

Of course, the love story is present (though it's hardly satisfying), and the villainous attorneys try to undermine his plan in order to earn custodianship of the cash.

This is hardly Pryor's greatest role -- nor is it the best from John Candy, as Pryor's loudmouthed right-hand-man -- but when it comes to kid-friendly movies made by comedy's most notorious foulmouth, I guess it'll do. Just don't look to it for any messages about financial responsibility.

It's funny to think that when the inevitably remake Brewster's Millions again (and you know they will -- they're putting out a Mr. Deeds Goes to Town remake this year, with Adam Sandler), it'll be $300 million he has to spend to inherit $3 billion.