Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Brewster's Millions Blu-ray Movie Review

$30,000,000 says you'll love this movie. And if you don't, no big deal. Take the money and I'll get 10x that, and give you a few million more for your troubles.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 13, 2017

Remember when Comedies were actually fun? When there was a real story, honest characterization, a memorable or unique arc, when they were larger-than-life laugh-out-loud fantasies rather than strings of mindless, droning sex romps and tasteless jokes? There's a place for the new style, but long gone, it seems, are the days of Brewster's Millions and the heydays of Comedy legends like the late Richard Pryor and John Candy, two of the greats to ever grace the screen and working together in what ranks amongst their top works in Director Walter Hill's (48 Hrs.) rags-to-riches-to-rags and possibly back-to-riches tale. Though the film wasn't a major hit or even, reportedly, all that highly regarded by its own director, it's one of this reviewer's personal favorites, a nostalgic blast back to a childhood in love with baseball, movies, and the ideas of both flamboyant big-money spending and charity (it's no surprise that Max Dugan Returns was another favorite).

Another bad-good investment...???

Small time minor league ball payer Montgomery Brewster (Richard Pryor) once had a cup of coffee in the majors with the Cubs and he dreams of making it back to the Show. He thinks he's being scouted at one of his games, but it turns out that the man following him and snapping his picture is under the employ of a law firm that has been given charge of a massive estate that is to be left to the recently deceased tycoon's only living heir: Monty himself. But there's a catch. Monty has 30 days to spend 30 million dollars. If he can do it, he will get 300 million, but after 30 days he cannot own any assets. and he can't destroy anything with any inherent value. He cannot tell anybody, either, not his best friend and catcher Spike (John Candy) or even his firm-appointed accountant, Angela Drake (Lonette McKee). There are a few more stipulations and exemptions, and he can weasel out of the deal and settle for a million bucks with no strings attached, but the big money is a gamble Monty can't refuse. He becomes an instant celebrity around New York, befuddling everyone around him as he blows through his money on the strangest of things, all the while he's celebrated, scrutinized, and forced to keep his lips sealed lest he blow the whole deal.

Brewster's Millions embodies the fantasy dream of scoring big, albeit with a major catch (and a catcher by the would-be major leaguer's side, as it were). It's a wonderfully affable movie that thrives on several fronts, including the fun in finding ways to blow that much money in such a short amount of time, the need to keep it all a secret, fending off those who stand to gain from his capital, and looking for love in a woman who sees only the world's most foolish man parting with his money in record time and with nothing to show for it. There are so many contrasts in the movie, tugs-of-war for Monty's cash, all underscored by the hush-hush nature of the wager. It plays through the expected successes and setbacks in his quest to blow the money, each scene dominated by Pryor, Candy, and company having a blast with the movie's light tone and folding in a few of its darker elements along the way, too, with just enough dramatic support to matter but not enough heaviness to burden the movie's lighthearted frivolity.

Pryor and Candy nail their parts. Pryor understands Monty's dilemma and carries the emotional baggage and inner turmoil it brings with superb care and attention to detail. He goes through a range of emotions -- bewilderment, excitement, doubt, depression -- as the stress mounts and the money doesn't disappear as quickly as he would like. He can turn from enthusiastic and determined to dour on a dime, playing up the big moments of joy and happy-go-lucky spending binges to wondering how in the world spending money can be such a burden. Candy is fantastic, delivering a prototypically Candy performance as the affable best friend who tries to maintain an even keel and loyalty to his buddy and not the money. He tries his hardest, doesn't alway succeed, but he walks that fine line between honest, heartfelt friendship and selfishness very well. The film is dotted with plenty of good performances from character actors in key roles, including Stephen Collins, Pat Hingle, and Jerry Orbach.

The film does take some liberties to drag the story out and add some dramatic value. Monty could have just as easily bought out that stamp store, for instance, rather than settle for one, and certainly viewers could come up with plenty of other, more efficient, maybe even more creative ways for Monty to get rid of this fortune, but surrendering a bit of logic is a small price to pay for the film's lovable characters and the enjoyment of watching it all unfold in all its divergent glory. Whether buying that stamp or running for office, buying an iceberg or betting on long shots, throwing a party or hiring a mimic, the film is never short of interesting methods for Brewster to blow his millions. The movie doesn't try to teach or preach the importance of a dollar or anything like that, either. It's a straight-up Comedy, throwing caution -- and millions of dollars -- to the wind and enjoying every last bit of it.

Brewster's Millions Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Brewster's Millions looks quite nice on Blu-ray. Universal's 1080p presentation maintains an attractive film-like texture, playing with a healthy grain structure and in-tact textures. While the movie isn't razor-sharp, it does maintain natural clarity and attention to finer details, like stitching, wear, and grime on Monty's well-worn Cubs jersey. Facial features are presented with a healthy complexity, clothing, too, not to mention many of the more finely appointed environments in the film, such as law offices and Monty's penthouse. Colors show nice punch and vibrancy. Cubs red and blue and the Bulls' more flashy uniforms of similar colors as seen later in the film are appropriately vibrant. Black levels are fine and flesh tones appear accurate. Light print wear is evident, but the image isn't often worse-for-wear. No encode issues are readily apparent. Fans are going to be very pleased with this presentation.

Brewster's Millions Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Brewster's Millions doesn't flourish in the sound department. Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is often camped and muddled with no real sense of space and certainly precious little clarity to its name. Music struggles to find much width, pushing beyond the center imaging but never finding any serious spread along the front, situated somewhere just out of the center's realm. Music is likewise lacking clarity, juice, and verve, failing to produce any distinguishing details to any of its musical pieces. Crowd cheers and dugout chatter come across as shallow, and even punches and crashes in a bar fight early on lack any serious oomph. A helicopter lands midway through the film to fair effect, easily the most prominent sonic moment on offer. It's rather heavy and well spaced, somehow finding a much further reach than any other element. Dialogue is passable, but even it wants for greater pronouncement, presence, and clarity, coming across as rather shallow but at least presenting with a center-imaged positioning in the stage.

Brewster's Millions Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Brewster's Millions contains no supplemental content.

Brewster's Millions Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Brewster's Millions still holds up as a refreshing blast of fun, painted by a little nostalgia, sure, but it's a quality little Comedy with several excellent performances. Pryor and Candy milk it for practically all its worth, with the former particularly adept at finding and emoting the extremes that pull his character in several different directions at once. Universal's long-awaited Blu-ray release is unfortunately absent any supplemental content. Audio is truly bland but the video presentation is quite good and very enjoyable. Recommended.