Rich Girl Reviews

Quick--a word that rhymes with rich? ... Stop that! Hitch--the word hitch also rhymes. But what does hitch have to do with rich? ... Perhaps there's a hitch to being rich ... Or one should be wary of getting hitched when one is rich ... Well, this poor little RICH GIRL understands all the pressing complications that occur when having money is your greatest asset. Courtney Wells (Jill Schoelen), at age 21, has recently come to an epiphany: "having it all" doesn't mean a thing. Courtney's been feeling ambivalent toward Jeffery (Sean Kanan), the snooty, two-timing, gold diggin' fiance who's pressuring her into marriage, and she doesn't feel much better about her overbearing, indulgent multimillionaire father, Marvin Wells (Paul Gleason), even if he is the most powerful man in Los Angeles. She's gagging on school life and friends. She just wants a life--a life to call her own. Determined to force a change, Courtney breaks off her engagement with Jeffery; she drops out of school; and she informs Daddy that she will make it on her own. Of course, when she tries to tap into her trust fund he promptly blocks her--now, perhaps, she'll appreciate his generosity. After days of searching, the newly destitute Courtney finds a sweet little $2,000-a-month shack to call home. Girlfriend may be slumming--but she shall do so in style. She also lands a job at a dive bar where bands perform and "hunks" and "babes" go cruising. The bar's owner, Rocco (Ron Karabatsos), is leery of hiring Marvin Wells's daughter but finally relents and promises to keep her background a secret. So begins Courtney's undercover waitress career. Never having lifted a plate in her life, she is, needless to say, inept. And stressed out by the friction with her fellow workers and nasty customers. Determined to prove her self-worth, however, Courtney quickly learns the ropes and becomes the diva waitress we knew she would be all along. One night at Rocco's, Courtney locks eyes with the house band's lead singer, Rick (Don Michael Paul). Love ... soft as an easy chair--you get the picture. Rick, who's from the other side of the country club, shows Courtney a world she's never seen. He grew up in welfare hotels; he has a police record; his father is a drunken derelict. But, he has a focus: his music. Rick's house band, Break Up, promptly hires Courtney as a backup singer. Not that she's sung a note in her life. He trains her in song, he trains her in dance and--a star is born. The obvious complications arise when Courtney's father tries to sabotage her employment and her romance. Also sabotaging Rick and Courtney is her shady, persistent, ex-fiance who still intends to bag the best dowry in LA. For starters Michelle (ex-Runaway Cherie Currie), Jeffrey's twirl on the side, informs Rick of Courtney's real background. Secondly, Rick is set up in a drug bust. Courtney is warned that the only way to save Rick is by staying away from him. While this pains her, Rick has made it clear that he no longer wants anything to do with her anyway. On the night of the contest for the best band, Courtney's voice saves the day for Break Up, even though she and Rick are not on speaking terms. No matter. Finally she has a focus; a love; a life. A round of applause. Marvin Wells enters Rocco's. Jeffrey enters Rocco's. They both want her out. A fight ensues between Jeffrey and Rick. Courtney gives them both the brush-off, but--empowered diva that she is--rides off into the sunset with Rick. They'll work things out. For a movie that takes place in a rock 'n' roll bar, RICH GIRL has an abominable soundtrack. The flat dramatic scenes come as a relief from the screeches of the band. Style wise, it's indiscernible in which year this takes place. Music circa 1983 ... Dance circa 1978 ... and clothes--well, you decide! Ron Karabatsos gives a notable performance as the club's owner. More embarrassing is Gail Neely's turn as the nightclub's big, bad, black cook, wielding a bad ass knife and, pointing to Jeffery, stating, "I'm sho' glad you ain't in my family!" It's dialogue like this that forces an actress to fall back on technique. (Substance abuse, profanity, nudity.)