‘Blank Check’ Cashes In on Home-Alone-Type Fantasy

In “Blank Check,” a boy receives a blank check from a crook who accidentally crashed into him, cashes it for $1 million, purchases a fantasy life, fends off by himself the crooks’ pursuit and learns that money can’t buy him love. (Rated PG)

He’s alone. He’s misunderstood. He’s pursued by evil men who are not as smart as he is. He lives in the suburbs. He comes into a tremendous amount of money. He triumphs.

He’s about 11 years old.

“It’s kind of like a kid’s dream,” said Crystal Vigal, 11.

But isn’t it also becoming a little familiar?

Crystal and her twin, Candace, thought so. The Disney film reminded them both of “Home Alone II,” in which MacCauley Culkin leads the two burglars on a merry chase through Manhattan using their money. But so what?

“This was more exciting,” Candace said.

“I always daydream abut having a lot of money,” Crystal added. “You could get everything you ever wanted.”

Not to mention, added their friend Ashley Casas, 10, “Not having your parents bother you about what to buy.”

The bottom line, said Kelly Orosz, 10, is that “You’re in charge. You get to order people around.”

The boy in the film is alienated from his friends and neglected by his father, who has high expectations for his children. When the boy gets the money, he hires a limo and a driver, buys a house built like a castle and fills the back yard with toys: a water slide, gigantic overstuffed chairs and a soft boxing ring, a batting cage. On his birthday, he throws a $100,000 party but has to pretend it’s for the fictional Mr. MacIntosh--his cover.

Most kids said they’d do the same thing with $1 million. But some had other ideas.

“I’d put it in the bank,” said Dana Barnie, 10. “Everybody at the bank would love you because you’re the biggest spender.”

Tina Fodor, 11, said generously she would give some to her family. How much?

“One dollar,” she said, laughing.

Some kids loved the parts where the boy, in “Home Alone”-style, bashes the crooks.

Jeffrey Leonard, 5, doubled over in imitation of the crook being pummeled in the batting cage. “I liked it when the boy said, ‘That must have hurt!’ ” he said, still chuckling.

“I liked the part where he locked the bad guy up in that rolling ball and he pushed it into the pool,” said Kyle Titterud, 7.

The kids had a good laugh at the pranks, which were not as nasty as in “Home Alone.” But they didn’t think the movie held many surprises. Especially for those who had seen TV commercials with the funniest scenes.

“They put all the good parts in the previews,” said Sierra Christian, 11.

“And then it wasn’t as good,” added Erica Maluf, 10.

“And you don’t really need to go see it,” chimed in Kali Feltz, 11.

I wondered what they thought about the boy after he spent all his money and still didn’t have any friends his own age.

“I’d rather not have a million dollars and have friends,” Dana said.