Ri¢hie Ri¢h

Directed by Donald Petrie, Ri¢hie Ri¢h follows Macaulay Culkin’s wealthy title character as he attempts to rescue his missing parents (Edward Herrmann’s Richard and Christine Ebersole’s Regina) and defeat John Larroquette’s nefarious Laurence Van Dough. Filmmaker Petrie, working from Tom S. Parker and Jim Jennewein’s screenplay, delivers a partially watchable yet predominantly forgettable comedy that fares terribly in its meandering, uneventful first half, as the movie, which boasts a heavy emphasis on over-the-top, kid-friendly bits of questionable humor, contains few, if any, elements designed to initially draw the viewer into the lackadaisical proceedings – with the tolerable vibe perpetuated almost entirely by the affable efforts of its star and periphery performers. It’s clear, then, that Ri¢hie Ri¢h improves slightly as it progresses into a comparatively enthralling midsection and third act, with the newfound emphasis on Richie’s action-packed escapades paving the way for a climax that packs a more exciting punch than one might’ve anticipated – which does, in turn, cement the picture’s place as a passable comic-book adaptation that never quite wears out its welcome.

**1/2 out of ****