Brad (Tim Allen) and Caroline Sexton (Kirstie Alley) may look like the perfect successful couple to their Manhattan socialite friends as they celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary with a big gala. However, the truth is that they haven’t been happy or intimate for years, sleep in different bedrooms, and have several maxed out credit cards from living their lavish lifestyle they can’t really afford. Just as they decide it’s finally time to call it quits and get a divorce, they discover that accountant (Wayne Knight) had been skimming off their company for years, filing fraudulent tax returns in their names. Now the IRS is after them, and they are on the run, looking for a place to hide out while their lawyer (Michael Lerner) figures out a way to save them. An unusual opportunity presents itself as they pass through Intercourse, PA. The Sextons decide to pose as Amish couple Emma and Jacob Yoder, who have come from Missouri to stay with their cousins Samuel (Jay O. Sanders) and Levinia (Megan Cavanagh) to assist with the Spring harvest.
Brad and Caroline are not the manual labor type—their lives have been built on mass commercialism and consumerism—from expensive cars to designer clothes to jewelry and real estate—and throwing and attending rich lavish parties. They also hate each other and were just about to go their separate ways, but now they must pose as a loving couple, live in one tiny bedroom in a home without electricity or indoor plumbing, and get up at 4:45 am to plow the fields, cook and clean. However, this may be the only way they can afford to hide out from the IRS, and so they’ll need to blend in. Plus, this sudden and drastic change in their lifestyle might just be the kick they need to rediscover why they originally fell in love, and what their true passions in life really are. Can they survive this culture clash, or will they kill each other in the process?!
It had been ages since I last saw For Richer or Poorer, so I was excited to check it out again on this new Blu-ray release. The film holds up incredibly well, and is still as funny as ever. Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley have great comedic timing and chemistry. In addition to the rapid-fire barbs and insults their characters throw at one another, and making pop culture references (which oddly didn’t feel outdated over 20 years later), there is also a lot of hilarious physical humor as Brad and Caroline find themselves the fish out of water trying to do farm chores or struggling to pretend to be their Amish alter-egos. At the same time, the actors also do an excellent job of portraying the change in their characters as they start to soften and become less of the bickering, snobby rich folks concerned about superficial things like money and looks, and realize the joys that can be found in the simpler things in life. I really enjoyed this overall transformation of the Sextons as they discover each other again, and realize how their skills and talents can be utilized to help their new Amish friends and family. The actors who play the Amish characters also do an excellent job of playing straight men to the more wacky antics of the Sextons.
The film also includes some great supporting comedic talent in Wayne Knight and Michael Lerner. However, the person who always steals the scene is Larry Miller as the over-the-top and overly-aggressive IRS Inspector Derek Lester, who will break the law and stop at nothing as he hunts down the Sextons. Meanwhile, his new, more by-the-books partner Frank (Miguel A. Núñez Jr.) just looks on with disbelief.
For Richer or Poorer was first released on Blu-ray in 2017 by Universal as a barebones disc that didn’t include any bonus material. Mill Creek’s new re-release is also barebones, but does include the film’s trailer. It features solid video and audio presentations, and at a more wallet-friendly price than Universal’s original release. The picture looks quite clean, with bright beautiful colors and a nice level of detail, particularly in close-ups. It really captures the natural beauty of the locations. The audio track provides clear dialogue throughout, and utilizes the stereo and surround channels to add a general city/country ambiance to the soundtrack, and give a more immersive feel to the film. This is particularly noticeable during the car chase at the beginning of the movie, and during scenes when it’s raining. The disc comes packed in a standard HD keepcase without a slipcover. The only bonus feature is the film’s trailer, and there is no digital copy included.
What’s Included:
Film: (1:55:26)
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.35:1
- Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- Subtitles: English SDH
Extras:
- Trailer (2:14)
Final Thoughts:
For Richer or Poorer is a hilarious fish-out-of-water tale that takes a Witness-like premise and turns it into a comedy that holds up quite well 23 years later. Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley not only make you laugh, but also make you care about these despicable self-centered characters who really transform over the course of the film. Mill Creek’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds great, but lacks any bonus features (though there wasn’t any material to port from any previous home media releases). The release comes easily recommended for anyone looking for a fun fish-out-of-water comedy with some heart, or fans of the film/actors.
