The read
Audiences rate it 33 points higher than critics do. Most of the 2,359 2000s comedy movies in this catalog score higher.
Synopsis
Soon after his insufferably arrogant father wins the Nobel Prize for chemistry, Barkley Michaelson is kidnapped by Thaddeus James, a young genius who claims to be Barkley's illegitimate half-brother. Motivated not so much by money as revenge, Thaddeus tries to convince Barkley to help him carry out a multimillion-dollar extortion plot against their patriarch.
Ratings
IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes25%
Metacritic28/100
Audiences rate it 33 points higher than critics do.
143 audience votes
Key crew
- Randall MillerDirector
- Randall MillerWriter
- Jody SavinWriter
- Mark AdlerOriginal Music Composer
- Paul OakenfoldOriginal Music Composer
Cast
- Alan RickmanEli Michaelson
- Bryan GreenbergBarkley Michaelson
- Shawn HatosyThaddeus James
- Eliza DushkuCity Hall
- Bill PullmanMax Mariner
- Mary SteenburgenSarah Michaelson
- Danny DeVitoGastner
- Ted DansonHarvey Parrish
- Ernie HudsonBill Canega
- Lindy BoothBeth Chapman
- Tracey WalterSimon Ahrens
- Hal B. KleinTully's Guy
Stills
Shows like Nobel Son
Themes
maskransomkidnappingphotographynobel prizecollegepoethalf-brotherrevengebrother against brothercorpserevenge motive