Milk Money
Picture: C+ Sound: B- Extras: D Film: C-
In 1994 a very bizarre
little film came out called Milk Money, which starred Melanie Griffith
and a still semi-unknown Ed Harris. The
story would be about three pre-teen boys who save up their ‘milk money’ in
order to see a naked woman. If the
story would have ended there, it may not have been so bad, but this is only the
beginning. Believe it or not, but the hooker
that they pay (Melanie Griffith) ends up becoming slightly attached to the
little tikes and begins to stay at one of the boys homes.
The boy’s widowed father
(Harris) actually believes at first that this new woman is a math tutor! The mother is deceased, which might have
something to do with marrying a man that’s as dense as this guy. The story
becomes more ridiculous as a bond grows between the three of them, which goes
along for a little while until some conflict needs to occur in an attempt to
build some tension. Enter the hooker’s
pimp, who begins a search for her and low and behold he eventually finds
her. The stories climax occurs at a
school dance, where the newly found relationship between the boys father and
his hooker turned housewife begins to unfold as he learns the truth of her past
when he meets her pimp. What a shocker
to find out that your new girlfriend is a hooker, but that’s no problem
right? After all they are in love and
she will make such a perfect mother.
Brought to DVD someone
late in the game, Paramount has finally issued Milk Money onto the format. I doubt that there was much of a waiting
line, but for those that enjoy a slight twist on family orienting programming,
might want to see this picture.
Presented in an anamorphic widescreen transfer at 1.85 X 1, Milk
Money appears to be a recycling from a laserdisc transfer. There is a considerable amount of grain on
this transfer, which also has some analog issues as well. Colors tend to bleed and the overall detail
level is never fully sharp. This was
also the same problem with Paramount’s DVD of Fatal Attraction, which
either means they are recycling poor transfers, or that their equipment is
outdated.
The soundtrack is
presented here in a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, which works, but is nothing
spectacular as the film seldom has material that becomes engaging. Music, dialogue, and some standard on-set
sounds come through adequately, despite being mostly front heavy. There are zero supplements on this DVD,
which can be either a blessing or a curse.
Those who are fans might want to see some supplements, while others
might be glad that we do not get to hear those involved with this film ramble
on and attempt to justify this crazy story.
Thankfully the director, Richard Benjamin has made very little since, which
after seeing this film it’s easy to see why.
- Nate Goss
