Verdict
Summary
A delightfully old-fashioned romantic comedy that borders on whimsical caper with more schmaltz than a Frank Capra comedy, For Love or Money was exactly the sort of light-hearted fare that the ’90s churned out by the dozen, but seen today it feels so much more the treat now that these types of movies simply aren’t made anymore.
Plot:
An ambitious concierge is caught between love and ambition.
Review:
Doug Ireland (Michael J. Fox, still as appealing as ever) has the run of the swanky hotel he works at: He’s the best concierge in New York, and everyone knows it. He’s always five steps ahead of his guests’ needs and desires, and he’s constantly on the move, making sure he impresses all the right people. For years he’s been saving his tips and working every day to build a nest egg to lease a piece of land in a plum spot that no one has thought of, and he has meticulously planned out his own hotel, but he needs a three million dollar loan to make his dream a reality. When a beautiful young woman named Andy (Gabrielle Anwar) catches his eye, he simultaneously gets entangled with her boyfriend, who happens to be one of the wealthiest (and scuzziest) men in New York, a businessman named Christian (Anthony Higgins), who sees potential in Doug’s business proposal. Using Doug to field his indiscretions with Andy, Christian strings Doug along for a while until Doug begins having feelings for Andy, which complicates his potential deal with Christian. When it gets down to the wire, Doug pulls in all the favors he can to win his dream … and his girl.
A delightfully old-fashioned romantic comedy that borders on whimsical caper with more schmaltz than a Frank Capra comedy, For Love or Money was exactly the sort of light-hearted fare that the ’90s churned out by the dozen, but seen today it feels so much more the treat now that these types of movies simply aren’t made anymore. I saw this theatrically and I’ve always loved it, and despite how predictable and goofy it is, it’s almost impossible not to enjoy it thanks to an upbeat tone, energetic direction, spry performances, and an underrated score by Bruce Broughton. Barry Sonnenfeld’s direction is really tight and on the money here.
For Love or Money is now out on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, and I can now retire my DVD of the film because Kino’s edition looks sharper and cleaner. There’s an audio commentary by an entertainment journalist (?!) and the trailer.
