Milk Money (film)

Milk Money

Promotional poster
Directed by Richard Benjamin
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy
Frank Marshall
Written by John Mattson
Starring
Music by Michael Convertino
Cinematography David Watkin
Edited by Jacqueline Cambas
Production
company
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release dates
 August 31, 1994
Running time
 110 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $20 million
Box office $18.1 million (domestic)

Milk Money is a 1994 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Melanie Griffith and Ed Harris. It is about three suburban 11-year-old boys who find themselves behind in "the battle of the sexes," believing they would regain the upper hand if they could just see a real, live naked lady.

The film was shot in various locations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well as in Cincinnati and Lebanon, Ohio. The story is set in a Ohio suburb named "Middletown", outside of an unnamed city (for which Pittsburgh was used). The screenplay was sold to Paramount Pictures by John Mattson in 1992 for $1.1 million, then a record for a romantic comedy spec script.[1] The film was originally set up with Joe Dante to direct and his frequent partner, Michael Finnell, to produce, but they left the project over disputes regarding the budget and their fees.[2]

Plot

Three boys — Brad (Adam LaVorgna), Frank (Michael Patrick Carter) and Kevin (Brian Christopher) — go from their bedroom suburb of Middletown to the city, bringing money with hopes of seeing a naked woman. They find a hooker named V (Melanie Griffith) willing to show her breasts. However, when they go to head home, their bikes have been stolen. They're broke and stuck in the city.

V speaks with her friend, Cash (Casey Siemaszko), and another hooker, Betty (Anne Heche). Cash has been skimming money that he sends to mob boss Waltzer (Malcolm McDowell), who in turn steals from his own boss, Jerry (Philip Bosco). V notices the boys outside in the rain and offers them a ride home in Cash's car.

After they arrive at Frank's house, V's car breaks down so she goes inside to use the phone. Tom (Ed Harris), Frank's father, comes home and is surprised to find a women in the house. Unbeknownst to V Frank tells Tom that V is a math tutor and that she's giving lessons to Brad. Tom offers to repair her car in a few days when he is free from his science classes at school. With no other option, she accepts Frank's offer to stay in his tree house without Tom's knowledge.

Frank begins a close friendship with V, hoping to get Tom to become attracted. He tells her Tom has no problem with her "job," meaning the tutoring ruse, but she thinks he means her prostitution.

V learns from television that Cash has been murdered by Waltzer. She phones Betty only to discover that Waltzer is looking for her - Cash told him that she stole the money. She realizes that he is overhearing the conversation and hangs up.

With V's car still broken down, she gets Tom's old bike from the garage and rushes to find him. He is on a field trip to the town's wetlands, undeveloped natural land that he is attempting to save from development. He is unable to repair her car any sooner but she realizes that she is probably safer in Middletown, since Waltzer doesn't know where she is.

At school, Frank flunks a biology test about sex education and must give his class an oral presentation. He decides to use V as a mannequin and through a ruse distracts his teacher long enough to draw a relatively accurate female reproductive system on her skin-colored bodysuit.

Tom and V go out on a date and both realize they are gaining feelings for each other. While walking through town on their date Tom and V run into Kevin's family. V recognizes Kevin's father who is a client, but he says she has him mixed up with someone else. He then admits to remembering her and says she was a dance teacher. Tom is impressed with how busy V is being a tutor and dance teacher, V then realizes that Frank lied about Tom knowing she is a hooker.

V explains herself to Tom, and their relationship grows. She reveals that her real name is Eve. She thought that was too biblical so she removed the “e”s. Kevin's father learns the truth about her as well, and in an attempt to purchase her services, unwittingly calls her home phone number. Waltzer learns from Betty about the trip to Middletown, thus finding out where V is hiding.

V is terrified that Waltzer will find her so she decides to leave town but attends a school dance to say goodbye to Frank. Waltzer shows up to spoil their fun. A chase ensues, with him finally being eliminated. Anxious about her status and afraid to return to her old job, V goes to Waltzer's boss and relates how he has been cheating him. She asks to be "forgotten" by them. The older crime boss succumbs to her charms and he tells her he'll take care of things, that she doesn't need to be afraid any more.

V finds the stolen money in a backpack and uses it to buy the wetlands in Tom's name, She also purchased the ice cream parlor in town so they can carry on with their new relationship.

Cast

Former Major League Baseball star Kevin Youkilis appears as a 14-year-old extra, and even has a line in the film.[3]

Production

Exterior and interior shots of Frank's house were shot at 1330 Hayward Court, in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The family who owns the house still lives there today, two of which made cameos in the movie. The same street was used in the filming of Katy Perry's music video "Last Friday Night". The tree house has since been removed as have both of the trees in the front yard (due to storms). Otherwise the house looks exactly the same. Production crews also mowed all the other neighbors' lawns on the street during filming. Film historian Adam Nichols gathered this information while speaking with the home owner in April 2016.

Reception

The film received mostly negative reviews. Siskel & Ebert gave it a "thumbs down" and speculated mockingly that it may have been made by Hollywood executives with an affinity for hookers and their desire to make films about them, for lack of knowing women in any other profession.[4] In print, Roger Ebert opted not for a conventional negative review, but to portray it as the result of a fictional conversation between two studio executives.[5]

The film currently holds an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 38 reviews. It received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Screenplay, but lost to The Flintstones.

Release

The film was released on DVD on September 9, 2003. It was presented in anamorphic widescreen in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio.

References

  1. ↑ The Hollywood Reporter http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=657546. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ Marx, Andy (February 4, 1993). "'Milk Money' makes change". Variety.
  3. ↑ McDonald, Joe (2009-01-17). "Youkilis' deal epitomizes Red Sox' philosophy of nurturing homegrown talent". Providence Journal. Retrieved 6/2/09. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. ↑ Siskel & Ebert's 1994 Milk Money Review
  5. ↑ Blog, Chaz's (August 31, 1994). "Roger Ebert Milk Money review". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. Retrieved 2012-12-15.
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