Guilty Pleasures: For Richer or Poorer (1997)

How would the Academy have received Witness minus Harrison Ford and all that murder mystery stuff? Probably a lot like the Rotten Tomatoes community has received For Richer or Poorer, starring a post-Santa Clause Tim Allen and pre-weight crisis Kirstie Alley.

When the IRS comes knocking, rich New Yorkers Brad and Caroline Sexton flee to Pennsylvania Dutch Country, a.k.a. the Land of the Amish. Forget the 3.8 Rotten Tomatoes rating: since I live just down the road from followers of the Ordnung, I thoroughly enjoy this inaccurate peek into the lives of the plain and simple. The Sextons' unhappy marriage challenges that of Frank and April Wheeler, but at least this relationship provides plenty of laughs.

When the fussy twosome starts to embrace their newfound identities and the film transitions from crude and dated ‘90s humor to lovey-dovey mushiness, the result is as syrupy and enjoyable as shoo-fly pie. Take that, Oscar.

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