Greedy (1994)

Greedy is the kind of mean-spirited-in-the-best-way comedy that takes a familiar setup—relatives circling a fortune—and turns it into a lively, sharply observed feeding frenzy where every smile has teeth. Kirk Douglas is magnificent as the cantankerous patriarch, playing him with such force and mischief that you can practically feel him enjoying every second of the chaos he provokes, while Michael J. Fox provides the perfect counterbalance with nimble timing and a surprisingly human center. Director Jonathan Lynn keeps the pace snappy and the satire pointed, letting the jokes land without ever losing sight of what money does to people when they think no one’s watching. It’s not for everyone if you’re allergic to vulgarity or prefer your family comedies warm and cuddly, but if you like your laughs a little sharper, this one delivers.

Greedy is aiming for a sharp, nasty little satire about family vultures circling a rich uncle, and for a while it delivers some enjoyably mean-spirited squabbling. The problem is it can’t decide whether it wants to be a biting comedy or a warmhearted lesson, so the tone swerves into sitcom-y sentiment just when the premise should be tightening the screws. The pacing gets a bit ponderous and the jokes aren’t consistent enough to carry the broader, more overdone moments. Still, Kirk Douglas has real presence and Michael J. Fox is likable, so if you’re in the mood for a mid-90s studio comedy with mild edge and occasional laughs, it’s passable—but if you want truly sharp satire, this probably won’t satisfy.