Twenty Bucks Movie Review

Check to the right... and that's only part of the cast. Movie stars great and small came out for this production, the ultimate production of a screenplay that's been floating around since the Great Depression -- seriously, it was originally written that long ago.

The story is simple: There's no real plot or central character -- aside from a $20 that makes it way from a random pickup across several days and dozens of handlers. From a homeless woman (Linda Hunt) intent on buying a lottery ticket with it to the G-string of a stripper (Melora Walters) to a pair of thieves (Christopher Lloyd and Steve Buscemi) to many more characters normal and exotic, the bill gets filthier and filthier until its ultimate demise (and rebirth, back in the hands of Hunt's street urchin).

The bill makes repeat visits to a couple of characters -- drawing them closer from different worlds. Brendan Fraser is on the verge of marriage to a Middle Eastern girl who he may not be right for. Elisabeth Shue is a waitress/struggling writer on the outs with her family -- whose dad dies during a Bingo game. Eventually Fraser and Shue are brought together -- through the mysterious power of U.S. currency!

This kind of movie has been made before (Short Cuts is another variation), but Bucks is one of the best of the lot. It's tough to bouunce from character to character and make them remain memorable, and the way the film blends humor and drama make it endearing and engaging. At just 85 minutes long, it never gets boring. Silly, yes. Boring, no.

Best of all, Twenty Bucks answers the nagging question of what happens to your money before and after its time in your pocket. Unassuming and cute, it's a quaint but fun little picture.

The DVD includes two commentary tracks and two featurettes.