Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley. An Amish farm. A massive IRS debt. On paper, the 1997 film For Richer or Poorer sounds like every other fish-out-of-water comedy that populated the late nineties. It’s easy to dismiss it. But if you actually sit down and watch it, you’ll find something surprisingly sharp buried under the slapstick. It isn't just a movie about a couple hiding from the taxman; it’s a weirdly prescient look at burnout, marriage, and the hollow nature of the "high life."
Honestly, the movie didn't get much love when it first hit theaters. Critics were kind of brutal. They saw it as a derivative blend of Witness and a sitcom. But audiences have kept it alive on cable and streaming for decades. Why? Because the chemistry works. Allen and Alley were at the absolute peak of their powers, and they played the "bickering married couple" trope better than almost anyone else in the business at the time.
What For Richer or Poorer Gets Right About Relationships
The plot kicks off with Brad and Caroline Sexton, a socialite couple in New York City who are effectively miserable. They’re celebrating their 10th anniversary, but they’re also planning a divorce. Then their accountant, played by Wayne Knight (yes, Newman from Seinfeld), frames them for a massive tax fraud scheme. They bolt. They end up in Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
It's a classic setup.
But here’s the thing: most comedies of this era would have the couple fall back in love instantly because of the "simple life." This movie is a bit more cynical. It acknowledges that the Amish lifestyle is incredibly hard work. Brad and Caroline don't just magically become better people because they’re wearing suspenders and bonnets. They’re forced to actually talk to each other because there are no distractions. No phones. No parties. No lawyers.
In one of the better-written scenes, they’re stuck in a bedroom with nothing to do but reflect on how they became people who hate each other. It’s a grounded moment in a movie that also features Tim Allen accidentally setting a field on fire. That balance is hard to pull off.
✨ Don't miss: The Lil Wayne Tracklist for Tha Carter 3: What Most People Get Wrong
The Cast That Carried the Weight
Let’s talk about the supporting cast, because they’re doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. Jay O. Sanders as Samuel Yoder is the perfect foil to Brad’s manic energy. He plays the Amish patriarch with a dry, understated wit that often overshadows Tim Allen’s louder performance.
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr. brings a weird, frantic energy as the IRS agent Frank Hall.
- Wayne Knight is doing his quintessential "sneaky guy" bit, which never really gets old.
- Larry Miller appears as a cop, and his deadpan delivery is, as always, impeccable.
Director Bryan Spicer, who had just come off Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, handled the pacing surprisingly well. He let the scenes breathe. Usually, these mid-budget comedies feel rushed, like they're just sprinting to the next gag. Here, the cinematography actually captures the beauty of the rural landscape, making the contrast with the cold, steel-and-glass New York opening feel earned.
Realism vs. Hollywood: The Amish Portrayal
Obviously, For Richer or Poorer isn't a documentary. It takes massive liberties with how the Ordnung (the set of rules for Amish living) actually functions. For instance, the way the community accepts the "Sextons" as distant cousins without much vetting is purely for the plot.
However, it avoids the mean-spiritedness you often see in these types of movies. The Amish characters aren't the butt of the joke; the Sextons are. The joke is always on the "civilized" people who don't know how to milk a cow or plow a field. It treats the community with a level of respect that was actually somewhat ahead of its time for a mainstream Hollywood comedy.
There's a specific subplot involving a quilt auction. It highlights the craftsmanship and the economy of the community. It shows that while they might live "simply," they aren't simple-minded. They are shrewd, observant, and deeply connected to their labor. Brad Sexton, who made his fortune being a "brand" guy, realizes he has never actually built anything in his entire life. That realization is the turning point of the film.
🔗 Read more: Songs by Tyler Childers: What Most People Get Wrong
Why the Critics Were Wrong (and Why We Still Watch)
When the film came out in December 1997, it was overshadowed by giants. This was the year of Titanic. It was the year of As Good as It Gets. A movie about Tim Allen hiding in a cornfield didn't seem like "prestige" cinema.
But look at the box office. It made about $31 million domestically. Not a blockbuster, but it found its soul on home video.
The dialogue has a snap to it. When Caroline tells Brad, "I’m not a farm wife, I’m a trophy wife," and he shoots back that she’s "not even a second-place ribbon," you feel the history of that marriage. It's sharp. It's messy. It's human.
Most people search for this movie today because they remember a specific scene—usually the one involving the "internal combustion" of a tractor or the scene where Tim Allen tries to use a cell phone in a silo. But they stay for the heart. It’s a "comfort movie" in the truest sense.
The Lasting Legacy of the "Fish Out of Water" Genre
The 90s loved this trope. City Slickers, Son in Law, Doc Hollywood.
💡 You might also like: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
What sets For Richer or Poorer apart is the stakes. If they get caught, they go to federal prison. That underlying tension keeps the comedy from floating away into nothingness. It adds a layer of desperation to Brad’s attempts to fit in. He isn't just trying to learn a new way of life; he's fighting for his freedom.
It’s also one of the last big-budget comedies that relied purely on star power and a high-concept premise rather than being part of a "cinematic universe" or a reboot. There is a charm to that. It’s a self-contained story that knows exactly what it wants to be.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going to revisit this movie, or if you’ve never seen it and want to understand why it’s a cult favorite, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the background characters. The extras in the Amish scenes are often doing more work than the leads. The level of detail in the sets—the lack of zippers on clothing, the specific types of carriages—is actually quite high.
- Compare the lighting. The film moves from a cold, blue-tinted New York to a warm, golden-hour Pennsylvania. It’s a subtle visual cue for the characters’ emotional thawing.
- Appreciate Kirstie Alley’s physical comedy. She was often underrated as a physical performer. Her reactions to the "amenities" of the farm are some of the best moments in the film.
- The IRS sub-plot is surprisingly accurate. Well, mostly. While the chase is exaggerated, the way the IRS can freeze assets and turn a life upside down in 24 hours is a very real fear that the movie taps into perfectly.
For Richer or Poorer isn't going to change your life. It isn't Citizen Kane. But it is a masterclass in how to take a simple, somewhat tired premise and inject it with enough personality and craft to make it live forever on basic cable. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to get lost in a place where nobody knows your name—or your net worth.
Check your favorite streaming platforms or digital stores. It’s often tucked away in the "90s Comedies" section, waiting for someone who needs a laugh and a reminder that even the biggest messes can be cleaned up with a little hard work and some suspenders.