Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020052
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The widowed dad (Ed Harris), who's nice but something of an environmentalist nerd.
His son, Frank (Michael Patrick Collins), who desperately wants a mother as he approaches puberty.
V (Melanie Griffith), the traditional hooker with a heart of gold.
To add the necessary complications, Malcolm MacDowell, Casey Siemaszko and Philip Bosco appear in tiny cameo roles as bad guys. And, as the final insult to audience intelligence, there are the five acres of wetlands that must be preserved from the evil subdivision developers.
The story begins when Frank and a couple of his suburban pals decide they have to find out what a naked woman looks like. They pool their money, ride their bikes to the city and pay a prostitute $100 to take her clothes off. As for the rest of the story, well, you can take it from there.
Writer John Mattson is a film school graduate. Her certainly knows the conventions and tricks of his craft. He's also able to create fairly believable scenes between adults. When it comes to kids, though, he hasn't a clue. All the actions and emotions of the young characters ring false, and the flat performances reinforce the lack of credibility.
Director Richard Benjamin handles the proceedings with his usual professionalism. But there's really nothing that could have been done with this material. If it weren't for a bit of strong language and sexual talk, this one could have been a TV movie-of-the-week, or perhaps even an after-school special.
Engaging work by the grown-ups - with Griffith in a familiar role and Ed Harris definitely cast against type - really isn't enough to recommend ``Milk Money.''
Milk Money *1/2
A Paramount release playing at the Salem Valley 8. 107 minutes. Rated PG-13 for subject matter, a little strong language and mild violence.
by CNB