Parents' Guide to Richie Rich

RICHIE RICH is a poor reimagining of the 1960s comic that introduced fans to "The Poor Little Rich Boy." Where the original character (and those characters who followed in a cartoon and live-action movie) was charitable and morally untarnished by his wealth, the Richie of this series is spoiled, selfish, and unaccountable for his actions. Much of this has to do with the fact that his father (Kiff VandenHeuvel) is beyond dim (he spends much of one episode searching in vain for a bathroom in his own house), so his son's antics go entirely unchecked, which leads to in-home concerts, a gorilla pit, and the occasional arrival of a sunken island nation's displaced population. And then there's the ever-doting robot maid who's easy on the eyes and who facilitates Richie's whims at every turn.

One might think that all the focus on materialism would be offset by at least a hint at the idea that money can't buy happiness, but sadly that doesn't happen. In Richie's world, money buys everything and can solve any problem (even those that deal with hurt feelings and a sense of neglect), and even though his level of wealth is excessive by kids' standards, that's the message they'll get from the show. What they'll also see is a chronically bickering sibling duo, a friend whose loyalty to Richie is influenced by his money and a family dynamic that's in no way helped by fabulous wealth. If you want better messages, revisit Richie Rich in an older (and less obnoxious) incarnation.