Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Truly inane comedy with few laughs, but nothing iffy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE BILLION DOLLAR HOBO hapless loser Vernon Praiseworthy (Tim Conway) is dumbfounded to discover that he's the long, lost nephew of transportation mogul R.R. Trayne, one of the world's richest men (Will Geer). "Choo-Choo" Trayne, as he is better known, has a proposition for Vernon. If the young man is willing to begin a new life -- first, learning about the country as he hops freights from city to city as Trayne did as a youngster, then joining the old man to work in his corporate headquarters -- Vernon will inherit Trayne's fortune. With only a dog as his companion Vernon sets out for Seattle, the first stop on his odyssey. But things never go as planned for Vernon. He catches the wrong train and lands in the middle of a dog-napping scheme with bumbling bad guys, big trouble, and the U.S. State Department in pursuit.
Is It Any Good?
The story, like the movie itself, goes from bad to very bad. Even the very youngest kids may be bored by this witless travesty. Wooden acting (in even the smallest roles), amateurish writing and directing, and even worse editing, add up to some almost-funny sight gags, a few clown-like scenes for Conway (that go on and on), and 97 minutes the sorry viewer will never get back.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about comic violence. Is it important to know when a film's action or violence is meant to be funny and not taken seriously? Why? What clues do the filmmakers use to help us recognize the difference?
"Slapstick comedy" is a kids' favorite. What does the term mean, and what unique elements do slapstick movies have? What are some of your favorite slapstick films?
In a good movie, a character arc -- how a person learns from his or her story and changes to make life better by the end -- is important. Does Vernon Praiseworthy have a "character arc"? Was his change only accidental? What would have improved this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 1, 1977
- On DVD or streaming : October 8, 2002
- Cast : Tim Conway , Will Geer
- Director : Stuart E. McGowan
- Studio : International Picture Show Company
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Animals , Transportation ( Trains )
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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