Plot
It took Aram Katourian (played by Jack Lemon) twenty years to build his thriving supermarket business with capital he had raised working around the clock when he was young.
It also took him no time to liquidate this business and give everything to charities.
He did this to give his son (Michael Katourian, played by Jonathan Silverman), as well as his wife (Millie Katourian, played by Talia Shire), a hard lesson in money management.
His plan didn’t go so well, and instead of recovering financially and standing on his own feet again to build another successful business from scratch and become rich once more, he ends up homeless, penniless, wifeless, and childless.
Hopefully for him, the love and support of his close ones prove to have a stronger impact on his personal happiness and welfare than any millions earned, or gained in another way.
A workaholic father and a lazy son
Nothing is more disheartening for a father who is a self-made millionaire than watching his son laying around the pool all day and partying all night.
After he has given his son everything in life, he expects, at least, some gesture of gratitude in turn, and a willingness to follow his father’s steps and show the same hard-working attitude.
A person can’t change overnight though.
It is the father’s mistake to have spoiled his own son.
He should have taught him the value of money and work from a very young age, but he didn’t.
It’s like birds feeding their fledglings directly into the mouth.
If they don’t stop feeding them like that at some point, the young birds will never be able to learn how to get their food on their own.
Now, it’s too late for a pampered son to turn instantly into a person who can grab life by the horns, as his father expects him to do.
Only when the son gets the shock of his life, he starts seeing things from another perspective and walking in the direction that his father wants him to.
But, I will say it again that it is the father’s, and not the son’s, fault, that the latter has grown into a work-shy person.
A respected, hard-working family man with a bit on the side
Aram Katourian has earned his way up by never retreating.
He has built his power and wealth by overcoming hurdles and challenges through persistence and perseverance both in business and in life.
He would never take a step back.
In some cases, he takes a step too far, however.
This sense of being unchallenged might have become a secret weakness of his.
His own wife doesn’t question his faithfulness to her, even when she finds out that he has a relationship with another woman (Irene, played by Joanna Gleason).
He wants to have his cake and eat it too.
Perhaps, it’s no wonder that both his wife and son have become greedy and only care for material goods, because he has set an example by seeking material pleasures himself, including an extra-marital relationship.
To his credit, he is honest enough to admit that he has become bored of his ongoing financial success and prosperity, and just wants a change of direction in life, for example, by starting afresh, which will give him some extra motivation and make him feel young again.
All’s well that ends well
This movie was filmed in the early 90s, and people seemed to be more forgiving back then.
At least, this fits the script.
A wife that was cheated and abandoned by her husband is ready to give him a second chance without any hesitation.
If the movie was filmed today, I doubt it if Millie Katourian would be willing to forgive her husband so easily.
Michael Katourian is also happy to reconcile with his father without giving it a second thought.
Well, this may be their way to show him that they don’t love him only for his money, but they will always stand by him even if he is a pauper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-BqYebBr\_o
Rating: 68/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/movies.
