The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest (2002)

Andy, a successful marketing guy quits his job, because he feels disconnected with the values about work he learned from his father. He gets a new job at a top notch research facility, ... See full summary »

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writers:

Po Bronson (novel), Jon Favreau (screenplay)

Stars:

Adam Garcia, Rosario Dawson, Jake Busey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adam Garcia	...	Andy Kasper
Rosario Dawson	...	Alisa
Jake Busey	...	Darrell Claxton
Enrico Colantoni	...	Francis Benoit
Ethan Suplee	...	Curtis 'Tiny' Reese
Anjul Nigam	...	Salman Fard
Gregory Jbara	...	Hank
Dan Butler	...	Lloyd Acheson
Linda Hart	...	Mrs. 'B'
Shiva Rose	...	Torso
Chandra West	...	Robin
Rob Benedict	...	Willy (as Robert Patrick Benedict)
Heather Dubrow	...	Claudia Goss (as Heather Paige Kent)
Stoney Westmoreland	...	Link
John Rothman	...	Ben (as John M. Rothman)

Storyline

Andy, a successful marketing guy quits his job, because he feels disconnected with the values about work he learned from his father. He gets a new job at a top notch research facility, where he quickly makes a powerful enemy who makes him volunteer for a nearly impossible project: The $99 Personal Computer. He recruits the only available guys at the lab, three sociopaths. Together they really compile a revolutionary PC for $99, but then they become the victims of a venture capitalist and Andy's old foe from the research lab. Can he and his new friends find a way to overcome the problems?

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Plot Keywords:

engineer | computer | dollar sign in title | money in title | nerd | 

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Taglines:

When things get odd... The odd get even

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language and sexual content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (Russia)

Also Known As:

The First $20 Million

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,535, 30 June 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,535, 30 June 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ocean Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Po Bronson (author of the book) played a cameo role in the film as one of many tuba players living in the same building as the main character.

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Goofs

When Andy moves into Mrs. B house she puts him in room number 2. (You see the number on the door.) He then goes to the bathroom and meets Alisa and introduces himself and says he lives in number 3. Alisa says she lives in 2. After Alisa makes the prototype case she enters her room, but it's room 3.

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Quotes

Andy: Hi! I'm Casper - the friendly hologram. I think it was God who said, "Let there be light."
[computer prototypes all start at once]
Francis: Holy shit!

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Connections

References Desert Thunder (1999)

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Soundtracks

Wimoweh Reprise
Written by Phil Margo
Performed by The Tokens
Courtesy of B.T. Puppy Records

User Reviews

Illogical and Imbecile Screenplay That Might Be Recommended for Morons Only

The yuppie Adam (Adam Garcia) decides to quit a successful career and work in a research company, in order to create something tangible in his life. He is assigned to develop a US$ 99.00 computer and joins three weird nerds rejected by the other team. The group accepts the challenge to build the piece of equipment, is well succeeded and cheated by another engineer. "The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest" has a so illogical and imbecile screenplay that might be recommended for morons only. The premise of a very young man, in the beginning of his career with such a prestige in his company with his boss and deciding to twist his profession to create something and follow his dreams is so ridiculous that does not deserve my time writing a review. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "Os Primeiros 20 Milhões" ("The First 20 Million")