'Richie Rich' a wealth of fun

Alyssa Cutting, Lauren Brooks and Tamara Lauderdale sit snuggled under a garnet blanket munching Orville Redenbacher's gourmet Popping Corn and sipping hot cocoa. Whispers of "Dang, he's rich" and "Whoa, that looks fun" can be heard as they watch Richie Rich's Christmas Wish, new to DVD.

The movie is about the world's richest boy, Richie (David Gallagher), who wishes he'd never been born. He gets himself into a load of trouble when Professor Keenbean's (Eugene Levy) Wishing Machine really makes his wish come true. Now no one remembers him, and he's in a race to save Christmas before his spoiled cousin Reggie (Jake Richardson) cancels it.

The cast is rounded out by Martin Mull (Sabrina, The Teenage Witch) as Mr. Rich and Michelle Trachtenberg (Harriet the Spy) as Richie's friend Gloria.

Lauren's favorite character in the movie was Richie's pet pooch, Dollar, who helps Richie and his friends when danger is lurking. "He was cute, and he had dollar signs on him," said Lauren, 10. "I want him!"

Tamara's opinion changes as she thinks the trusty butler, Cadbarry, was the best character since he had a strange English accent, and when Richie wasn't born he had silly spiked rock star hair.

Alyssa, 9, just liked the idea of a wishing machine.

While she and Lauren would both wish for world peace, Tamara would want "a higher salary for teachers." Then Tamara adds that the movie overall was very creative, "especially the dog with money sign spots and the other weird gadgets in the house."

From a crazy remote-controlled sleigh ride (and crash) to a lively police chase in a bank, all three said the movie is action-packed. Tamara thought it was funny when the sleigh slid off the mountain peak and exploded with all the gifts inside.

They would recommend Richie Rich's Christmas Wish to their school friends in fourth grade at Azalea Elementary School in St. Petersburg. Lauren said the movie would be great for kids "ages 6 and older."

This is definitely a great movie for families to watch over the holidays.

-- Lindsey Brooks, 13, is in the eighth grade at Bay Point Middle in St. Petersburg.

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