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"The Riches" (2007) More at IMDbPro »

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45 reviews in total

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73 out of 79 people found the following review useful:
Izzard takes it to a new level, Driver is fully redeemed, 12 March 2007

Author: djdocraymond from United States

As a general fan of Eddie Izzard, I was surprised to see that both he and Minnie Driver were taking on a television show. While most TV pilots seem hackneyed and forced, this had the quality of a feature film. Pilots are out there to bait the audience and this one did so with a pace that, if they can keep it up, will have the viewer exhausted by the end of every hour. My surprise turned to sheer joy by the end of this first episode. Both Izzard and Driver are amazing in their respective roles, flowing effortlessly through their very complex characters. The writing is intense and raw and the dialogue is both natural and on point. I had no idea what I was getting into when the show opened and the thread of the drama pulled me right through to the end. I'm not one to watch many TV shows on a weekly basis but for this show, I'll make the time. Definitely the best TV I've seen in years.

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53 out of 62 people found the following review useful:
Does not disappoint, one bit., 12 March 2007

Author: airelosse from United States

Sure, it was only the pilot I saw, but I had very high hopes coming in, being a big, big fan of Eddie Izzard's. I was just worried that for a drama/comedy with what appears to be an actual storyline (unlike many serials, such as the CSI's or Law and Order's - not that there's anything wrong with that), a stand up comic was a rather strange choice for the lead character. But Izzard plays his role straight, not slapstick, and very well. Between him and Driver, definitely seems to be a good foundation (and at least most of the time, they did a good enough job of dropping their accents and picking up the southern one). The kids were good enough, which is really all I needed out of them for now. Not a distraction, added well to the ensemble.

Plot seemed dodgy when I read the synopsis. But it actually does make some sense, seems the writers are going to use one new thing going wrong per episode, such as their old family members possibly showing up. I just hope, that even though it just started, it stays fresh. But the outlook looks bright for the Riches.

10/10

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45 out of 53 people found the following review useful:
Loved it!, 15 March 2007

Author: cdsutton-1 from United States

It's got to be hard for TV producers and writers to come up with a new theme for a series... but they have scored a bit "10" with this one. I believe The Riches will go down in history as one of the truly "different and great" ones. I'd bet it will soon be a cult series. I'm hooked already!

Yes, it was a bit dark - I wasn't prepared for the violence and dark themes - drug use, cross-dressing child... but everything was portrayed intelligently. I thought it would be funnier, and perhaps future episodes will be, but I absolutely loved it - sort of the way I loved Fargo and Twin Peaks. Very clever, great acting, intelligent, and what a different idea for a theme.

Living in Tampa myself and knowing a little about the "Travelers" - modern day gypsies (and yes, there are some that live nearby) - made it hit home even more. Plus I've been hankering for an RV, so I am really enjoying seeing them ride down the highway.

Haven't we all had a little dream about living this type of life?

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33 out of 38 people found the following review useful:
A breath of fresh air!!!!!!!, 18 March 2007

Author: from New Haven, CT

The Riches is simply one of the best shows on television. If you are a fan of drama, comedy, and action – this is the show for you. The Riches stars Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver as a family of con-artists who steal the American Dream. The dialogue is witty and the acting is superb. If you haven't seen the pilot yet, don't wait another minute! Once you watch the first 5 minutes, you'll be hooked. There's a magic to the show, one that steals your heart and leaves you wanting more. It's compelling television in a sea of banal programs. I can't wait until the next episode!!! Eddie and Minnie make a dynamic tandem; the soundtrack is eloquent and inspired. Kudos to FX for bringing America a show with complexity, character, and spirit.

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29 out of 31 people found the following review useful:
This is fine television, 18 March 2007

Author: Aubries from Pennsylvania

I missed the first airing of the pilot but caught an encore Saturday night, and I am glad I did. The plot was challenging, characters engaging, dialog tight and raw, atmosphere gritty.

I have an inexplicable soft spot in my heart for Gypsies, and I am usually disappointed in how cold and inaccessible modern nomads are in film and T.V. The Riches family are portrayed with enough warmth and pathos (and unexpected poetry!) to let the viewer in, while in no way slipping into the criminals-with-a-heart-of-gold cliché. This ain't no Hallmark channel program!

I was particularly impressed with Eddie Izzard's rich use of language which really did touch on the poetic at times. Minnie Driver was especially compelling and complex. And their marriage was one of the few believable mature relationships I've seen on television in a long time.

With the absurd premise and the comedy-background casting, I expected a few laughs, but didn't find them. Instead, I had the strange yet familiar feeling reminiscent of picking up a Frank Miller comic book the first time, expecting superheroes and finding horror in its place.

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23 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
just like HBO, 13 March 2007

Author: hcurschel from United States

This show is not nearly as funny as I thought it would be (damn those trailer editors!), but it is better than I imagined. It's amazing what a couple of excellent actors and good writing can bring to a series. Seeing Minnie walk out the gates with those braids and that pallid, dead face! I disagree with a previous poster: Minnie is excellent with accents, and EDDIE IZZARD!! We have been fans of his stand up for years, and he is unrecognizable. He prides himself on having an almost incomprehensible English accent, but his American accent is--so good. Americans are so often casted in Brit flicks, so it's refreshing to see a couple Brits doing the same routine. I'm so excited there is something on to watch--we have no shows left. Hope this doesn't go the way of Wonderland, Wonderfalls, Freaks and Geeks . . . I do hope that it doesn't push itself into some of those Rescue Me directions (cheap thrills, cheap thrills). But would Eddie sign onto something that wasn't special?

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21 out of 25 people found the following review useful:
The Riches is the only thing that makes me excited for Mondays..., 14 March 2007

Author: thelawnwranglers from United States

I now have something to look forward to on the most dreaded day of the week. I love every single character on this show, I love every line, every look, every scene, EVERYTHING.

When I first watched The Riches I was a little confused. It was funny and touching but at the same time rather dark (much like Director Peter O'Fallon's first feature "Suicide Kings")  Upon further examination I have realized that it is this contrast that makes the show so incredible. Hollywood does an amazing job at painting the perfect portrait of "the American dream" while simultaneously ignoring its dark corners and stark realities. The Riches takes the shiny and manufactured concept of the American dream and strips it down to reveal the reckless and desperate nature of those aiming to achieve it. Though Wayne and Dahila Malloy initially seem like terrible parents, they are the perfect (albeit extreme) representation of American society's obsession with materialism and are, therefore, much like the rest of us. Though it is hard to picture yourself stealing the lives of a dead couple, I'll bet it is not as hard to picture yourself sacrificing everything for the well being of your children. I love this show because it forces me to think about my own borders and limitations. Right now there is no way I could carry on like the Malloy's but if push comes to shove, I could be singing another tune.

Long live The Riches!

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20 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Wonderful!, 13 March 2007

Author: jng9451 from United States

Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver had great chemistry and really portrayed their characters to the T. From the opening scene until the very end I couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. When a show keeps you for that long, you know it's good. FX needs to keep putting out the "out of the ordinary" shows. Dirt and Nip/Tuck along with the Riches gives TV a breath of fresh air. They are not the average copy cat crime show or hospital drama (which isn't a bad thing all together). But it was time for something new! I thought this show was awesome! It had everything you need in a show and more! The plot line was awesome and I can't wait until the next episode. It will be fun to watch how the characters and the story evolve over the next 12 episodes.

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23 out of 30 people found the following review useful:
Eddie Izzard shows he can do whatever he wants..., 14 March 2007

Author: echozdog from Minneapolis, MN

The guy brings me to tears doing his stand up. He has acted before, but never so much as a straight guy. He's either a British guy (not a stretch) or a transvestite (not a stretch either). Here he is a father who loves his kids, loves his wife (dearly) and is also a Modern Gypsy (thief). His whole family comes from a sub culture where you lose your sole of you sleep in a house. There is a hierarchy to a "Gypsy Family" to which this family belongs. Eddie pulls off this "father with flaws" perfectly. Minnie Driver plays the wife who just got out of jail and has been scared by that experience. There must be some top notch production/direction/writing going on because all the actors are very believable. It's very much a dark comedy type show. We have only seen the pilot, but it's on our Tivo from now on. 9/10

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17 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
A little confusing, but something fresh., 12 March 2007

Author: meegaan1 from Nevada USA

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

WARNING: Spoilers. I watched this mainly for Eddie Izzard because I love his stand-up, and I was not disappointed. There's a compelling plot-line centered around this gypsy-like con-artist family and the bigger family they belong to. After Wayne Malloy (Izzard) gets into a fight with the boss of the family, he steals cash belonging to the boss or family, I wasn't quite clear on that, and he and his wife Dahlia (Driver) take off in their old RV with their daughter and two sons. Fellow members of their 'family' run into them at a gas station, and after a little conflict, two RVs are chasing one another. The RV not belonging to the Malloys forces a car off the road, and they flee. Wayne decides to try and help whoever was in the car, and instead he finds a dead woman and her husband, still alive though he dies soon after from a piece of wood that impaled his heart. Long story short, Wayne finds a paper belonging to the man, Douglas Rich, entailing the new home he has bought in a planned community. Wayne takes his cash, credit cards, and ID before having his family assist him in pushing the car and its occupants into a lake. Wayne decides that it's time for his family to live the American dream, so they pose as the Riches and move into their home. Over all, it's a satisfying plot with some laughs and also some deeper drama. I would recommend that anyone give it a try, I'm certainly glad I did.

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