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For Richer or Poorer

Play trailer Poster for For Richer or Poorer PG-13 1997 1h 55m Comedy Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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17% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Brad Sexton (Tim Allen) and his wife, Caroline (Kirstie Alley), are wealthy New Yorkers with both marital and financial problems. The latter issue becomes a pressing matter when they discover that their accountant has embezzled millions and pinned the blame on them. Forced to go on the lam, Brad and Caroline end up in an Amish area of Pennsylvania and decide to pose as members of the religious group to evade the IRS. As the two adapt to the simple Amish lifestyle, they begin to reconnect.
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For Richer or Poorer

Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press Aug 8, 2019
Neither [Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley] nor the competent cast can overcome the formulaic script by Jana Howington and Steve Lukanic or the humdrum direction by Bryant Spicer. Go to Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Jan 9, 2018
1.5/4
Kirstie Alley and Tim Allen are shallow New York socialites on the verge of divorce who become tax-fraud fugitives and pretend to be simple Amish folk. Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert they're not. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2/4
The plot is a yawner, another one of those "fish out of water'' formula jobs, complete with car chases and jokes about cow manure. But [Kirstie Alley and Tim Allen] succeed somehow in bringing a certain charm to their scenes. Go to Full Review Todd James Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta) Aug 6, 2024
3/5
It's a see-through comedy with an easily-called plot line but Allen and Alley's attempt to blend into the austere Amish lifestyle is mostly syrup-free fun. Go to Full Review Dan DiNicola The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY) Jan 10, 2023
C-
Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley show their customary skill with comedy, but they can not overcome the ho-hum directing and script. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Sep 10, 2021
1.5/4
Despite its Amish setting, this laborious comedy proves to be witless rather than Witness. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jaystine T @Tina13 Feb 25, 2026 This is a classic feel good 90s comedy film. I adore watching it time and time again. Perfect for when you need something happy to view. The critics ratings are vastly underrated!!! this is a great film!!! See more thiago s @Thiagostone Feb 9, 2026 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Melissa L @Agent99 Sep 14, 2025 This movie was funny and sweet. Seeing Allen and Alley as wealthy people live amongst the Amish and learning lessons from them is interesting. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 20, 2025 The worldwide gross is $32,700,000.00, less than the budget of $35,000,000.00. Ages 13 and older. See more Melissa M @Lisey Mar 15, 2025 The script is far from original. The IRS guys are over the top & over played. This movie is definitely ham & cheese. Some scenes are very cheesy. And a lot of the acting is very hammy. Caroline's incessive whining is annoying. Tim Allen makes the movie worth watching. Kirstie Alley as Caroline is grading. But as Emma she's charming. The funniest parts are when the IRS guys are eavesdropping in on the Sexton's conversations. And they keep misinterpreting things. The scenes between Brad & Big John the horse are among the funniest. When the Sexton's steal the cab & I R S guys are chasing them is LOL. Eventually the Sexton's embracing the Amish life adds a heartwarming feel to the film. It's not a bad film. As the movie progresses it gets better. this is definitely a 4 movie. Because of the chemistry between Kirstie Alley & Tim Allen. See more Jun 22, 2024 This was a classic comedy. See more Read all reviews
For Richer or Poorer

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Bryan Spicer

Director

Tim Allen

Brad Sexton

Kirstie Alley

Caroline Sexton

Jay O. Sanders

Samuel Yoder

Michael Lerner

Phil Kleinman

Wayne Knight

Bob Lachman

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For Richer or Poorer

For Richer or Poorer (1997) For Richer or Poorer (1997) For Richer or Poorer (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Brad Sexton (Tim Allen) and his wife, Caroline (Kirstie Alley), are wealthy New Yorkers with both marital and financial problems. The latter issue becomes a pressing matter when they discover that their accountant has embezzled millions and pinned the blame on them. Forced to go on the lam, Brad and Caroline end up in an Amish area of Pennsylvania and decide to pose as members of the religious group to evade the IRS. As the two adapt to the simple Amish lifestyle, they begin to reconnect.
Director
Bryan Spicer
Producer
Jonathan Sheinberg, Sid Sheinberg
Screenwriter
Jana Howington, Steve LuKanic
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Sheinberg Productions, The Bubble Factory, Yorktown Productions, Universal Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.6M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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