OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY
A film review by Anton J. Panagos
Copyright 1991 Anton J. Panagos
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*** NOW PLAYING AT A THEATRE NEAR YOU !!!! ***
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OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY (Rated R)
- Starring Danny DeVito, Penelope Ann Miller, Gregory Peck, Piper Laurie, and Dean Jones
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY is a slightly humorous version of Oliver Stone's WALL STREET. OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY is the story of a corporate raider, played by DeVito, who wants to buy out a company. He's so ruthless that he is nickname "Larry the Liquidator." The company DeVito wants to buy goes by the name of New England Wire and Cable (as in TELEPHONE wire and cable). (There are even some obvious plugs for AT&T phones!!) The company is situated in a sleepy little town of Rhode Island. Trying to stop him are the chairman of the board of NEW&C, great actor Gregory Peck, his wife, Piper Laurie, and their lawyer, Penelope Ann Miller. Miller and DeVito fight it out for who should keep the company: DeVito, who will do anything to "help his stockholders," or Miller, a clever business lawyer who will do almost anything to save the old company and its employees. The difference between this movie and WALL STREET is that DeVito and Miller have a love interest. Or is it a lust interest?
Good performances are had by all, especially by DeVito. DeVito has a knack for nasty roles. From RUTHLESS PEOPLE to THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN, he has delivered well. Peck makes a short role interesting. His impressive speech at the annual shareholder's meeting is a notch in the case against "liquidators." Penelope Ann Miller gives a sultry but otherwise okay role. She's been cast in better roles, such as in THE FRESHMAN. Unfortunately, the movie was slowly paced with occasional humor thrown in by DeVito. The payoff at the end of the movie was not really worth it either. I'd give this movie this movie a "B" for effort (on acting) but a "C" for execution. The director, Norman Jewison, has directed better in other movies. Jewison thought the romance between DeVito and Miller was enough to carry the movie. It doesn't. It isn't complex and neither is the plot revolving DeVito's intended buy-out.
I'd rate this movie on a scale on 1 to 4 stars, a generous 2 stars for the good, but not great acting. OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY is rated R for language, and adult situations, but no violence.
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