For Love or Money, released in theaters on October 1, 1993, glides between glossy Manhattan elegance and screwball dilemmas, sparked by Michael J. Fox’s charm. Juggling the ambitions of a working-class dreamer and the heartaches of forbidden attraction, the film finds gentle humor and honesty amid high-rise intrigue and classic love triangle tensions.
Doug Ireland (Fox) is the consummate concierge—smooth, resourceful, and beloved at his posh, aging Manhattan hotel. For years, he’s stashed away every tip to pursue his true dream: opening his own luxury hotel on Roosevelt Island.
With time running out on his option for the property, Doug needs a quick $3 million to move his plan into reality.
Enter Christian Hanover (Anthony Higgins), an enigmatic billionaire who might be Doug’s much-needed investor—but who asks Doug for an unusual favor: look after Hanover’s neglected mistress, Andy Hart (Gabrielle Anwar).
Doug is already infatuated with Andy, though his advances have always been politely rebuffed. As he chauffeurs her to parties and discreetly covers for Christian’s marital secrets, Doug edges closer to her and to his business goal. The catch: Christian has no real intention of leaving his wife, while Andy, believing in that promise, grows increasingly disillusioned.
The film’s farcical spirit bubbles over as Doug’s personal and professional lives tangle—only for the truth about Christian’s duplicity to surface at the last moment.
In a climax involving mistaken deals and a race through New York traffic, Andy learns of Christian’s betrayal and Doug’s integrity.
A last-minute investor emerges from an unlikely ally, securing Doug’s dream and the film closes with Doug and Andy united by love and ambition in their future hotel.
Barry Sonnenfeld (The Addams Family, Get Shorty, the Men in Black series) directed For Love or Money.
Gabrielle Anwar in For Love or Money (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Performances and Humor
Fox infuses Doug with quick-witted earnestness, carrying much of the film’s lightweight energy.
Anwar provides a graceful, approachable foil to Fox’s perpetual motion, while Higgins and Balaban add slick villainy and comic bureaucratic menace, respectively.
The cast’s interplay, supported by Bob Balaban, Michael Tucker, Udo Kier, Dan Hedaya, and a cameo from Isaac Mizrahi, gives the zippy script extra sparkle.
Reception for For Love or Money
For Love or Money grossed $4 million on its opening weekend, finishing sixth at the box office. The top film of the weekend was Malice starring Alec Baldwin and Nicole Kidman, which earned $9.2 million.
The film would gross $11.1 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
While not an innovator in the romantic comedy genre, For Love or Money became a fixture of nostalgia playlists in the decades following its release.
Its blend of classic farce and New York aspiration captured the transitional optimism of early-‘90s Hollywood.
Ultimately, the film endures less for its story or stakes than for Fox’s nimble likability and Sonnenfeld’s breezy direction, serving as a gentle ode to taking the leap for both love and dreams.
