Brewster’s Millions

Based on a book by George Barr McCutcheon, Brewster’s Millions follows Richard Pryor’s Montgomery Brewster as he inherits a substantial chunk of money from a distant (and previously unknown) eccentric uncle (Hume Cronyn’s Rupert Horn) – with the catch being that Monty must first spend $30 million in 30 days before he can claim the entire amount. It’s a pretty fantastic premise that’s utilized to progressively underwhelming effect by director Walter Hill, with the movie slowly-but-surely transforming from a fun wish-fulfillment comedy into an overlong, heavy-handed drama. There’s ultimately little doubt, then, that Brewster’s Millions fares best in its breezy and entertaining first half, as scripters Herschel Weingrod and Timothy Harris effectively stress Monty’s initial efforts at blowing through millions of dollars in progressively flamboyant ways (eg Monty rents the entire top two floors of New York City’s famed Plaza Hotel). The easygoing, fun vibe begins to dwindle steadily as the film moves into its tedious midsection, however, with the increasingly hands-off feel perpetuated by a misguided emphasis on elements that couldn’t be less interesting (eg Monty’s growing infatuation with an accountant, Monty’s eventual decision to run for office, etc). By the time the completely anticlimactic final stretch rolls around, Brewster’s Millions, saddled with an oddly lifeless Pryor performance, has confirmed its place as a justifiably forgotten relic of the 1980s.

** out of ****