Brewster's Millions is a 1985 comedy film starring Richard Pryor and John Candy based on the 1902 novel of the same name by George Barr McCutcheon. It is the seventh film based on the story, with a screenplay by Herschel Weingrod & Timothy Harris. It was directed by Walter Hill.
Plot summary
Monty Brewster is an aging minor league baseball pitcher with the (fictional) Hackensack Bulls. He and his best friend Spike Nolan (John Candy), the catcher for the Bulls, are arrested after a bar fight, and are consequently given their flat-out release from the Bulls; they soon discover that a photographer they believe to be a scout for the New York Mets was actually hired to find Brewster and bring him to a Manhattan law office. Brewster suddenly finds that his recently deceased long-lost great-uncle was an eccentric multi-millionaire who was also his only living relative, and includes him in his will. Under the terms of the will, Brewster is challenged to spend $30 million within 30 days in order to inherit $300 million. There are some important conditions attached: at the end of the 30 days, he may not own any assets that are not already his, and he must get value for the services of anyone he hires. Furthermore, he may donate only 5% to charity and lose another 5% by gambling, and he may not waste the money by buying expensive goods and then destroying them or giving them away. Finally, he is not allowed to tell anyone about the nature of this challenge. Moreover, his uncle has a "wimp clause" which Brewster could take if he feels he's not up to the challenge, offering $1 million in cash and "forgetting the whole thing"... and the law firm would become the executors of the estate and divide the money among charities after a sizable fee to be paid to the firm. The managers of the law firm urge Brewster to take the $1 million. Monty heavily considers this offer but decides to take the challenge.
Besides the usual range of wasteful spending gags, there are failed attempts on placing bad bets. Also, Spike invested company money wisely, thus earning Brewster $10 million that he had already spent. A dejected Brewster, realizing he is "right back where he started" with the full $30 million, gets the idea to join the race for Mayor of New York City and throws most of his money at a protest campaign urging a vote for "None of the Above." The two major candidates sue Brewster for his confrontational rhetoric, leading to a multi-million dollar settlement, which of course furthers their competitor's true goal. He hires the New York Yankees for a three-inning exhibition against his Hackensack team, with himself as the pitcher. Unfortunately, Brewster is forced to end his protest campaign when he learns that he is leading in the polls as a write-in candidate; he publicly announces that he cannot accept the mayor's job if he were to win it. Blowing his last $30,000 on a party after the game, Brewster becomes fed up with money (the goal his great-uncle had wanted) and is heartbroken that Spike, his accountant (Angela Drake, a paralegal at the law firm) and others around him don't understand why he had to blow his money. That next day, the 30th day, he wakes to find the sycophantic treatment he received from his month-long entourage is gone, and he makes his way to the law office. Having withdrawn from the election, he learns that the city voted "None of the Above" thus forcing another election with none of the candidates running for office again.
He is almost thwarted by Warren Cox, a junior lawyer from the uncle's law firm (and Angela's fiancee), who is hired by Brewster to decorate his penthouse's office. Cox was bribed by partners of the firm to ensure Brewster fails to spend the entire $30 million, which he does by hiding a substantial amount of cash ($20,000) intended as a holding deposit on furniture. As Brewster is making his way to the office, Warren hands Monty the money, informing him he is not broke. As the executor goes over the books and notices the missing funds, Brewster admits he has "failed" and is ready to sign over the estate. At the last moment, Cox reveals his duplicity to Angela. Brewster himself has developed an unrequited attachment to Angela; when Cox reveals the plot to her with barely a minute to spare, Angela steps in to save Brewster, telling the executor about Cox's scheme. An angered Brewster punches Warren, who then claims that he will sue Brewster for every cent he has. Brewster, realizing he will need a lawyer, questions Angela about her status as a paralegal and then has her write a check in the amount of the hidden funds ($20,000) as a retainer for her services as a lawyer. He thus completes the challenge at the stroke of midnight, inheriting the whole $300 million and winning Angela's affections for himself. The executor, Mr. Roundfield, who continuously checked in on Brewster throughout the film and provides a somewhat "moral shoulder to lean on" senses "conspiracy to defraud" and decides to have a full investigation brought against the law firm.
Cast
See also
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