FOR RICHER OR POORER

SYNOPSIS:
Real estate developer Brad (Tim Allen) and his arrogant, high society wife Caroline Sexton (Kirstie Alley) are unhappily married socialites living in Manhattan. Still, they have their high rolling lifestyle, until they learn that their accountant, Bob Lachman (Wayne Knight), has filed erroneous tax claims and embezzled their money. After Derek Lester (Larry Miller), a gung-ho I.R.S. agent, mistakenly opens fire on Brad, the couple go on the run and find themselves in Amish country, pretending to be Jacob and Emma Yoder, visiting Amish relatives to Samuel (Jay O. Sanders) and Lavinia Yoder (Megan Cavanagh). They stay on the Yoder farm and quickly try to adjust to the lack of their usual creature comforts. Time passes, and as their lawyer Phil Kleinman (Michael Lerner) tries to work things out for them, Brad and Caroline become more accustomed to their new, simpler lifestyle and begin to grow fond of each other again. Their masquerade, however, is soon threatened by agent Lester and his partner, Frank Hall (Miguel A. Nunez), who begin to zero in on the Sexton's whereabouts.

"Like Jungle 2 Jungle before it, For Richer or Poorer pits two contrasting cultures against each other, while we watch the characters adapt. In its favour, For Richer or Poorer is slick, beautifully shot and does have a heart. It also has Kirsty Alley and Tim Allen, who are delightful together, exuding genuine screen chemistry. It’s full credit to them that they can be so engaging, even when the situation is totally ludicrous and the plot has got lost in a paddock covered with cow poo. But if you’ve seen the promotional flyers showing Alley and Allen sitting on a cow, he with a mobile phone, and she dressed to the nines with her compact, you will know pretty much what to expect. It’s not Shakespeare. Yes, it’s predictable, contrived and there are intrinsic weaknesses in the plot which wavers and gets bogged down in length as well as substance. But Alley is sassy and a real scene stealer as the bitchy socialite who is domestically challenged, with Allen comically appealing as the material corporate guy with his own sense of logic. In it’s favour are the verdant, picture postcard setting, and Randy Edelman’s musical diverse score, filled with melodic sculpture. The Amish community is portrayed with warmth and dignity, while the message that the best things in life are free, does get through the chuckles. It’s cute, it’s fun, it’s low on substance, but For Richer or Poorer brings happy escapism that promotes the value of true friendship, love and commitment."
Louise Keller