History YMMV / BlankCheck

** Audiences in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to it as well if [[DoubleStandard the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of gender.

* IdiotPlot: Even for a "kid empowerment" film, adults are really idiotic. The whole plot happens because the bank manager thinks a gangster would send a kid to fetch his ''laundered million dollars'' (the gangster's reaction to hearing the manager explaining this is him actually saying something along the lines of "I wouldn't do that! What made you think I would?!") and all other adults hearing Preston's excuses about Mr. Machintosh (he's very secretive, I am not his son, he hired me to be his assistant, etc), while it may still be a stretch to assume "InventedIndividual", they ''never'' think this sounds like a textbook case of "Stranger Danger", ''not even Preston's father'' (who is neglectful for most of the film but still gets a PapaWolf moment in the third act when he walks into "Machintosh's" office to give him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, without knowing that he's giving it to Preston. On that end... this also happens because he never demands "Machintosh" to turn his chair around and face him).

* IdiotPlot: Even for a "kid empowerment" film, adults are really idiotic. The whole plot happens because the bank manager thinks a gangster would send a kid to fetch his ''laundered million dollars'' (the gangster's reaction to hearing the manager explaining this is him actually saying something along the lines of "I wouldn't do that! What made you think I would?!") and all other adults hearing Preston's excuses about Mr. Machintosh (he's very secretive, I am not his son, he hired me to be his assistant, etc), while it may still be a stretch to assume "InventedIndividual", they ''never'' think this sounds like a textbook case of "Stranger Danger", ''not even Preston's father'' (who is neglectful for most of the film but still gets a PapaWolf moment in the third act when he walks into "Machintosh's" office to give him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, without knowing that he's giving it to Preston. On that end... [[WhatAnIdiot this also happens because he never demands "Machintosh" to turn his chair around and face him]]).

* IdiotPlot: Even for a "kid empowerment" film, adults are really idiotic. The whole plot happens because the bank manager thinks a gangster would send a kid to fetch his ''laundered million dollars'' (the gangster's reaction to hearing the manager explaining this is him actually saying something along the lines of "I wouldn't do that! What made you think I would?!") and all other adults hearing Preston's excuses about Mr. Machintosh (he's very secretive, I am not his son, he hired me to be his assistant, etc), while it may still be a stretch to assume "InventedIndividual", they ''never'' think this sounds like a textbook case of "Stranger Danger", ''not even Preston's father'' (who is neglectful for most of the film but still gets a PapaWolf moment in the third act when he walks into "Machintosh's" office to give him a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, without knowing that he's giving it to Preston. On that end... this also happens because he never demands "Machintosh" to turn his chair around and face him).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: In addition to just being... ''icky'', it might have been funnier to have Shay reject Preston's kiss by saying "Sorry, bank's closed."

*** Audiences in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to it as well if [[DoubleStandard the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of gender.

* TheScrappy: Preston's father Fred is no doubt the most hated character in the movie, even more than what the [[HateSink writing intended]]. In addition to the [[AdultsAreUseless usual uselessness]] in most 90's kids films, he lets his two older sons bully Preston and use his room for their own business (despite being incompetent at computers), berates Preston for not doing the same, or find job, despite being clearly too young to do so, starts the plot by being so money tight that even giving him twenty bucks for a theme park is too much to ask, expressed [[SkewedPriorities more concern about how Preston's bike was ruined]] rather than [[NoSympathy concern that he was almost hit by a car]], and is overall is just so unlikable that Preston comes ''just'' shy of being actually sympathetic in the process.

** Considering how much more sensitive the general public now is to even the most gently implied sexualization of children (so much so that making two underage actors kiss ''each other'' for ''Series/StrangerThings'' was controversial), there's no doubt that the scene of a twelve-year-old attempting to romance and kiss a 32-year-old woman on the lips would not only ''not'' be considered charming but also offensive enough result in a swift ending to the career of every single person involved.
*** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to it as well if [[DoubleStandard the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of gender.

*** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to kindly as well if [[DoubleStandard the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of gender.

*** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to kindly as well if [[DoubleStandard the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of genders involved.

*** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to kindly as well if [[DoubleStandardFemaleOnMaleRape the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of genders involved.

*** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to kindly as well if [[DoubleStandards the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of genders involved.

*** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to kindly as well if [[DoubleStandardsFemaleOnMaleRape the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of genders involved.

* TheScrappy: Preston's father Fred is no doubt the most hated character in the movie even more than what the writing intended. In addition to the [[AdultsAreUseless usual uselessness]] in most 90's kids films, he lets his two older sons dominate Preston's room for their own business (despite being incompetent at computers), berates Preston for not doing the same despite being clearly too young to do so, starts the plot by being so money tight even giving him twenty bucks for a theme park was too much to ask, expressed [[SkewedPriorities more concern about how Preston's bike was ruined]] rather than [[NoSympathy concern that he was almost hit by a car]], and is overall is just so unlikable that Preston comes ''just'' shy of being actually sympathetic in the process.

* UncertainAudience: The premise's setup involving banking practices is rather difficult for kids to understand, while the typical 90's kiddie-flick trappings means adult viewers aren't likely to have much fun with it.
* ValuesDissonance: Considering how much more sensitive the general public now is to even the most gently implied sexualization of children (so much so that making two underage actors kiss ''each other'' for ''Series/StrangerThings'' was controversial), there's no doubt that the scene of a twelve-year-old attempting to romance and kiss a 32-year-old woman on the lips would not only ''not'' be considered charming but also offensive enough result in a swift ending to the career of every single person involved.
** Audience in 1994 would've probably not taken too kindly to kindly as well if [[DoubleStandardsFemaleOnMaleRape the genders were reversed]]. But for most modern-day audiences, [[{{Squick}} the reaction]] would likely be the same regardless of genders involved.

* ValuesDissonance: Considering how much more sensitive the general public now is to even the most gently implied sexualization of children (so much so that making two underage actors kiss ''each other'' for ''Series/StrangerThings'' was controversial), there's no doubt that the scene of a twelve-year-old kissing a 32-year-old woman on the lips would not only ''not'' be considered charming but also offensive enough result in a swift ending to the career of every single person involved. Even disregarding that egregious example, the premise alone of a 12-year-old trying to romance an adult would would be considered inappropriate for the same reasons.

* OvershadowedByControversy: Many decided not to watch the film because of the aforementioned kiss between an adult and a prepubescent child.

* {{Squick}}: An attractive, 32-year-old, female FBI agent is openly attracted to the prepubescent protagonist, and kisses him on the lips -- in front of other cops, no less. After promising to come look him up again when he's thirteen.

* HilariousInHindsight: Well not exactly hilarious (see {{Squick}} below) but [[Film/TheProfessional there was another movie released in 1994 that had a 12-year-old child protagonist from a troubled family who develops a crush on an older adult]].

* HilariousInHindsight: Well not exactly hilarious (see {{Squick}}) but [[Film/TheProfessional there was another movie released in 1994 that had a 12-year-old child protagonist from a troubled family who develops a crush on an older adult]].

* HilariousInHindsight: [[{{Squick}} Well not exactly hilarious]] but [[Film/TheProfessional there was also another movie released in 1994 that had a 12-year-old child protagonist from a troubled family who develops a crush on an older adult]].

* HilariousInHindsight: [[{{Squick}} Well not exactly hilarious]] but it's still rather interesting to think about. [[Film/TheProfessional There was another movie released in 1994 that had a 12-year-old child protagonist from a troubled family who develops a crush on an older adult, albeit in a different genre]].

* HilariousInHindsight: [[{{Squick}} Well not exactly hilarious]] but it's still rather interesting to think about. [[Film/TheProfessional There was another movie released in 1994 that had a 12-year-old child protagonist develop a crush on an older adult, albeit in a different genre]].

* HilariousInHindsight: [[{{Squick}} Well not exactly hilarious]] it's still rather interesting to think about]]. [[Film/TheProfessional There was another movie released in 1994 that had a 12-year-old child protagonist develop a crush on an older adult, albeit in a different genre]].

* HilariousInHindsight: [[Film/TheProfessional This isn't the only movie released in 1994 to have a 12-year-old child protagonist develop a crush on an older adult]].

* ValuesDissonance: Considering how much more sensitive the general public now is to sexualizing children (so much so that making two underage actors kiss ''each other'' for ''Series/StrangerThings'' was controversial), there's no doubt that the scene of a twelve-year-old kissing a 32-year-old woman on the lips would not only ''not'' be considered charming but also offensive enough result in a swift ending to the career of every single person involved. Even disregarding that egregious example, the premise alone of a 12-year-old trying to romance an adult would would be considered inappropriate for the same reasons.

* ValuesDissonance: Considering how much more sensitive the general public now is to sexualizing children (so much so that making two underage actors kiss ''each other'' for ''Series/StrangerThings'' was controversial), there's no doubt that the scene of a twelve-year-old kissing a 30-year-old woman on the lips would not only ''not'' be considered charming but also offensive enough result in a swift ending to the career of every single person involved.

* ValuesDissonance: Considering how much more sensitive the general public now is to sexualizing children (so much so that making two underage actors kiss ''each other'' for ''Series/StrangerThings'' was controversial), there's no doubt that the scene of a twelve-year-old kissing a 30-year-old woman on the lips would not only ''not'' be considered charming but would result in a swift ending to the career of every single person involved.