Mr. Rice's Secret (1999)

A terminally-ill boy's life is saved when his deceased 400-year-old friend, "Mr. Rice", leads him on a treasure hunt to find a magical "Potion of Life".

Director:

Nicholas Kendall

Writer:

J.H. Wyman

Stars:

David Bowie, Bill Switzer, Teryl Rothery

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Bowie	...	Mr. Rice
Bill Switzer	...	Owen
Teryl Rothery	...	Marylyn
Garwin Sanford	...	Stan
Zach Lipovsky	...	Funnel Head
Jason Anderson	...	Veg
Tyler Thompson	...	Gilbert
Campbell Lane	...	Mr. Death
Richard de Klerk	...	Simon (as Richard De Klerk)
Tyler Labine	...	Percy
Eric Keenleyside	...	Ray (as Eric Keenlyside)
Colleen Rennison	...	Molly
Kyle Labine	...	Jonathan
Tim Dixon	...	Priest
Juno Rinaldi	...	Cindy (as Juno Ruddell)

Storyline

A terminally-ill boy's life is saved when his deceased 400-year-old friend, "Mr. Rice", leads him on a treasure hunt to find a magical "Potion of Life".

---

Plot Keywords:

saving a life | friend | 400 year old | teenage boy | ring | 

---

Taglines:

It's what you do in life that counts.

---

Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, language and scenes of bullying

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2001 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Mr. Rice's Secret

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New City Productions, Panorama Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the end of the credits, the working title of the movie can be seen: "Exhuming Mr. Rice".

---

Quotes

Funnel 'Funnel Head' McConnell: He's a parent, Owen. He's a recognized authority figure: I mean, he's supposed to be lied to!

---

Soundtracks

Trainwreck
Performed by Sharkskin
Written by Stewart Northey/Elliott Kendall

User Reviews

A posthumous treasure hunt that leads nowhere

What better friend can a dying boy have than a mysterious neighbor who gives him a really cool ring, which he throws away at the first opportunity?

This movie had great potential. David Bowie exists only in flashback as an avuncular sage who spouts chestnuts about living and dying, and for all that I wish that his screen time had been longer. Certainly his is the most interesting character in this collection of cliches, and the casting was well done in his case.

My main problem with this movie is that it could have been a fantastic story, except it pulls out every cheap sentimental stop along the way. The story could have been told in many ways other than this one, with its collection of children that are either dying or obnoxious or both, but I suppose that it's just not as interesting or story-worthy when an adult is terminally ill. Why couldn't any other member of the community that supposedly loved and mourned Mr. Rice have been the recipient of his secret?

The treasure hunt itself is a good device, and one of the best parts of the movie, as are Owen's troubling nightmares and images of death. I would like to have seen more of this. I would like to have learned more about Mr. Rice's life...and death. Instead, we're left with frustrating glimpses of an interesting character, and no real clue why he chose this boy as his best friend. This is a movie that tries too hard to be too many things (in some places too strongly reminiscent of "Stand By Me"), and in the end really leads the viewer nowhere we haven't been before.