For Love or Money is a 1993 American romantic comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring Michael J. Fox and Gabrielle Anwar.
Doug Ireland (Fox) is a concierge at the Bradbury, a luxurious hotel in New York City, saving money to open his own hotel. He finds the financial supporter he needs in Christian Hanover, a somewhat unscrupulous billionaire. Christian considers the proposal and asks Doug to "take care" of his mistress, Andy Hart, a perfume saleswoman. Doug pretends to date Andy so that she can get close to Christian without his wife suspecting. Doug learns that Christian is deceiving Andy about getting a divorce. But because his hotel proposal is urgent and considers that Andy is old enough to make her own decisions, he doesn't intervene. However, as he and Andy spend time together, he develops feelings for her, and now he must choose if he's in, well, for love or money.
This film features examples of:
- Ambition Is Evil: Averted. Doug wants to build modify a hotel in New York and make himself tens of millions of dollars in the process.
- Androcles' Lion: Early in the film, Doug refused to fire a senile member of the hotel staff. At the end of the film, it is revealed that said member accidentally sent Doug's business plan to Harry Wegman, who decides to put up the $3 million that Doug needs.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Harry Wegman, the tycoon whose marriage Mike helped rekindle. He ends up receiving Doug's business plan by happenstance and agrees to bankroll the project.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Christian, besides the whole two-timing thing, solidifies himself as this when he attempts to trick Doug into signing a document that was intended to permit the billionaire to take over the hotel project Doug had optioned and force Doug out.
- Deus ex Machina: Doug gets the girl but loses the guy who has agreed to finance the construction of his hotel. On his wedding day, Mike is called by a real estate tycoon who agrees to bankroll the project. The tycoon was the man whose marriage Mike helped rekindle.
- Karmic Jackpot: Doug following his heart allows him to have money AND love.
- The Mafia: Salvatore isn't necessarily a mobster but he's not not a mobster either.
- The Mistress: Andy is Christian's mistress.
- Sweet and Sour Grapes: Doug is forced to choose between chasing Andy and pursuing a business deal with Christian that will bring him financial success. He chooses love, but then by happenstance finds someone else who agrees to fund the deal. Also, Christian was planning to cheat him out of the project the whole time.
