Crappy film

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

I enjoyed the movie (in parts) for what it is and what it delivers: a guy finds a million bucks and almost gets away with it. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously, but that doesn't mean it's without its faults. At times it makes sense, other times it doesn't. Essentially, the movie isn't anything more than the basic storyline. I don't recall seeing a villain here. The movie does go somewhere, but I think it really would have if the movie had one, especially in a movie about lost (or found, however you choose to look at it) money. Without a villain, and/or a sidekick, "Money for Nothing" barely takes off. And how in the world does this cop (played by Michael Madsen) know where Joey Coyle is if he dyed is hair blonde, and said on the phone he was already on the plane? That's beyond me. See this if you're not expecting too much.**1/2 out of ****

John Cusack plays Joey Coyle, an unemployed man from Philadelphia who decided to try and keep a bundle of money which accidentally fell off an armored truck...one million dollars to be exact! The story, albeit true, isn't cinematically original but did have some fresh possibilities. Unfortunately, the handling here is colorless and one-dimensional, and the film is saddled with a flat conclusion. Cusack does all right, but too many of the secondary characters are saintly and rather unbelievable. The movie's chummy tone also proved to be a false front, as the life of the real Joey Coyle came to a sad, tragic end. ** from ****

"Money for Nothing" shows us what one man did when he found that sum in the streets of South Philly and learned that "finders-keepers" is not an easy caveat to abide. A not-to-be-taken-seriously light drama full of familiar faces which rolls along with tongue-in-cheek, "Money for Nothing" makes for a fast moving sofa spud watch now on broadcast. (C+)

John plays Joey, a young man with a Polish surname. His brother is played by James Gandolfini, Italian surname, 6 years later the star of The Sopranos - a fine character actor. Mother with a Polish surname is famous Irish actress Fionula Flanagan. Various other actors play parts that do not fit with their surnames. Lacking are strong African American actors, maybe OK in l993, but not now in 1999. There are too many characters in this nice, sad, comic, little movie.