For Richer, for Poorer

Well cast, well made comedy about a self made businessman (Lemmon) who liquidates all his assets to get a new lease on life and show his lazy son a lesson. Lemmon and Silverman are perfect as on screen father and son, who would later go on to work together in "The Odd Couple II." (Silverman plays Walter Matthau's son in that film.)

"For Richer, For Poorer" stars Jack Lemmon...which is ample reason to watch this made for HBO film. He is, as you'd expect, very good in the lead. That being said, the script itself is pretty bad...lacking any sort of realism or common sense.

Aram Katourian (Lemmon) is a very successful business man...having created a small empire of organic food supermarkets. Money is no problem, as he's worth many millions and you'd think the guy would be happy. However, he's not...as his college educated son is a bum with no ambitions other than to live off daddy's money. Now here's where the script goes off the rails. While any SANE person would simply cut off the son and tell him to get a job, Aram concocts a truly stupid plan...to sell off his stores, give away ALL his money and force the son to see the need to get a job. However, at no point did it occur to him to just tell his son to get a job, or, possibly, to tell him they are out of money while keeping a nestegg in the bank. Instead, in his late 60s, Aram plans on going to work and recreating his fortune with his son assisting him...which doesn't happen. Instead, the son remains a bum and Aram contemplates suicide. Does this make much sense? No....nor is it especially funny. Sadly, it gets MUCH worse by the end of the film...when any semblance to reality seems to have vanished.

The bottom line is that the studio hired a wonderful actor but never bothered to come up with a reasonable script. It's just pretty dumb and beneath Lemmon's considerable talents.

Jack Lemmon was one of America's most beloved actors. This film may not be the greatest of his works but he makes it so. With a supporting cast like Madeline Kahn, Joanna Gleason and Talia Shire, Jack Lemmon is surrounded by talented women. Jonathan Silverman played his college graduate son, Michael. The film was made for television for HBO in 1992. Jack played Aram Katourian, an Armenian American successful businessman who has millions of dollars. His son doesn't seem interested in hard work or success but by getting on his father's tailcoats. The film has a lesson about how to succeed in business. When Aram declares bankruptcy, he moves his family to their first apartment on the wrong side of town. He wanted his son to become independent and ambitious to succeed. Meanwhile, he is rescued by a homeless woman named Billie (Madeline Kahn) and recounts his story to her. Joanna Gleason played his longtime mistress, Irene and Talia Shire played his longtime wife, Millie.

This movie was very pertinent to me; not because I have bratty kids but because as a man who came from nothing and made a reasonable amount of money, the thought is always in the back of your mind that you could do it again. Easily. Hell, with my experience and brilliance maybe in half the time..

I watched this film in awe. The lack of success in doing it again is truly breathtaking! It honestly made me think long and hard about what I had and what I had achieved, and that my best plan was HOLDING ON TO IT!!!

I thought it was well acted and extremely entertaining, although one could say the end was a tad predictable, but good fare nevertheless.

And for all of you out there who consider yourselves, as I did, self made marvels, its a lead balloon. A good one..

I just really liked it. Seemed cliché but is actually quite original with an unexpected and sweet ending. And the chemistry between the actors is amazing.