The early to mid-nineties were filled with movies that really wanted some of that sweet “Home Alone” cash, thus many movie studios pumped out their own versions. You could almost call these rip offs but they were given enough of a twist to where they felt original. “Blank Check” only had about a movie’s worth of story to it, but it tried very hard for the “Home Alone” audience, and really was just a mediocre to abysmal kids film that barely made a ripple upon its release. It’s yet another film about a child that drops in to an extraordinary situation and runs afoul hard nosed criminals that eventually confront him and are put through punishment through his own series of gags, quick thinking, and devices.
Preston is a spoiled twelve year old kid who is angry that his two big brothers now have their own rooms, since both are doing well financially after starting their own business. Despite his dad telling him to earn his own money, Preston wants to be rich after a bad experience at a theme park reminds him his friends are more spoiled than he is. No working and lessons about saving, and earning what you want for this kid! How dare his father lecture him about making a living. After a mix up at the local bank with a gangster (Miguel Ferrer) who is stockpiling a million dollars, he’s accidentally given a blank check.
He decides to cash it, and the bank teller confuses Preston for a courier (Tone Loc) set to pick up the cash, and soon finds himself basking in riches beyond his imagination. “Blank Check” really sounds like it could be a great movie, but shocking enough it isn’t. Even in 1994 at the age of eleven, I found the film to be barely passable entertainment. The movie isn’t funny, creative, or unique in any way, but it does hope to compensate for that by offering a premise that taps in to every child’s wish to be stinking rich. Or rich by 1994 standards. “Blank Check” presents some really great scenarios involving living the dream life by a twelve year old’s standards.
Preston gets back at his family, shows up his friends, and befriends a very kind personal chauffeur (the charming Rick Ducommun who seems the be the only one having fun in this farce). Of course, Preston soon realizes money isn’t everything, and eventually things go awry. Especially when he garners the attention of a local undercover FBI Agent (the insanely sexy Karen Duffy) posing as a bank teller, who humors Preston when he begins forming an affection for her. “Blank Check” musters up an interesting premise but never seems to do much with it. There’s no inherent fun behind the film, and it’s all so bland. Preston never really lives out childlike fantasies, he just collects a lot of high priced junk. It’s such an under developed premise with no real insight in to the character, and in effect the film comes off as a missed opportunity.