Today’s quick review: Where the Money Is. Carol (Linda Fiorentino), a nurse at an elder care facility, leads an ordinary life with her husband Wayne (Dermot Mulroney). She gets her chance at adventure when Henry Manning (Paul Newman), a bank robber left unresponsive after a stroke, is transferred to her care. Carol becomes suspicious that he’s faking and uses every trick at her disposal to get him to drop the ruse and take her with him on a job.
Where the Money Is is a crime movie that pairs an elderly bank robber with a clever nurse. Linda Fiorentino stars as Carol, whose curiosity is piqued by the arrival of Henry. For his part, Henry is a patient and resourceful man with a wealth of experience at his disposal. The partnership between the two leads to a tidy little caper that never gets too serious. However, the movie has less of an impact than its more ambitious counterparts.
Where the Money Is manages to be amusing without tipping over into full-blown comedy. The quasi-love triangle between Carol, her husband, and her new partner in crime adds some spice to the dialogue. The cat-and-mouse game between Carol and Henry leads to a few clever moments, while the robbery she eventually plans is novel, if not quite thrilling. Where the Money Is makes for a breezy watch that takes advantage of a charming premise.
The only trouble is that the movie doesn’t aim higher. The plot is linear, with a couple of distinct stages but no subplots to speak of. The banter between the characters is pleasant enough, but it never truly sparkles. The caper is well-suited to the characters’ skill set, but it lacks the sheer spectacle and tension of other crime movies. In general, Where the Money Is knows its limitations and never reaches beyond them, for better or worse.
Where the Money Is is a decent choice for anyone in the mood for a brief taste of the crime genre. Its unique premise and fairly capable execution are enough for it to carve out a place for itself, but it’s missing the heights of humor, romance, or thievery to make a lasting impression. Those looking for something more thrilling or more overtly funny may want to skip it.
For a more overt comedy about a trio of elderly bank robbers, try Going in Style. For a subdued comedy with a similar premise and a greater focus on romance, try The Old Man & the Gun. For a slightly more dramatic crime movie with a similar feel to it, try Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. For a more glamorous caper, try Ocean’s Eleven.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for modest charm.