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All About the Money (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

All About the Money (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 90 min · English
Starring
Eddie Griffin, Casper Van Dien, Stephen Stanton, Lin Shaye, Danny Trejo, Jon Gries

Three inexperienced individuals set out on a risky quest to apprehend a dangerous outlaw and collect a substantial reward. Their impulsive actions spark a suspenseful chase, pushing them to their limits and forcing them to confront unexpected challenges along the way. The pursuit tests their courage and resourcefulness as they navigate a dangerous landscape filled with uncertainty.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like All About the Money
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch All About the Money (2017)

Where can you watch All About the Money? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, Fandango at Home Free and Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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4 main characters · contains spoilers

All About the Money Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of All About the Money (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Vince (Eddie Griffin)

    Vince is a man struggling to make ends meet, forced into a mundane existence selling vacuum cleaners. His desperation for change drives him to join his friends on a reckless adventure. His character represents the struggle of those yearning for a better life, caught in the throes of past failures.

    • 😓 Struggle
    • 🤝 Loyalty
    • 🥴 Redemption
  • Chris (Casper Van Dien)

    Chris is dealing with the fallout of a failed marriage and the complexities of his wife's affluent relationship. He embodies the conflict between personal aspirations and familial obligations, making his journey a search for identity and purpose amidst chaos.

    • 💔 Heartbreak
    • 🔄 Change
    • 🏃‍♂️ Determination
  • Kurt (Lin Shaye)

    Kurt appears to have a comfortable life but is ultimately driven by greed, leading him to a precarious situation with the drug trade. His transformation from a seemingly secure character to a key player in a dangerous environment illustrates the impact of temptation and poor choices.

    • 💰 Temptation
    • 🚀 Ambition
    • 🚷 Vulnerability
  • John Waters (Stephen Stanton)

    John Waters is a formidable ally with a military background, bringing experience and unconventional strategies to the group’s chaotic mission. His character adds depth to the story by bridging the gap between danger and the necessary tactics to confront threats.

    • 🎖️ Military
    • 🤜🤛 Allies
    • 🔫 Strategy

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:23

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Setting

Where and When Does All About the Money Take Place?

The setting of All About the Money (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

2016

The events of the film unfold in 2016, a time marked by significant political and social changes in various parts of the world. During this period, issues related to drug trafficking and crime were prevalent in South America, affecting lives and communities. The characters' personal struggles mirror the larger societal challenges, highlighting themes of desperation and the quest for a better life.

Location

South America, Colombia, Mexico

The movie primarily takes place in South America, specifically Colombia, where the protagonists are drawn into the dangerous world of drug cartels. Colombia is known for its rich culture and scenic landscapes, but it also has a dark history associated with drug trafficking and violence. These contrasting aspects of the region serve as a backdrop to the characters' chaotic journey and their struggle for redemption.

  • 🌎 Adventure
  • 🏞️ Exotic
  • 🚨 Crime

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:23

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3 major themes

All About the Money Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is All About the Money (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Wealth and Greed

    The pursuit of wealth drives the characters to extreme lengths, showcasing their desperation and poor decision-making. Their initial ambitions have crumbled, leading them to chase a substantial bounty that ultimately leads to chaos and conflict. The film critiques how greed can blur moral lines and impact friendships.

  • Friendship and Betrayal

    The strained relationships among the three friends serve as a core theme, as they grapple with personal failures and shifting loyalties. Their bond is tested by external forces and personal agendas, reflecting the complexities of human relationships amidst chaos. This theme is further complicated when they face a moral dilemma about their choices.

  • Action and Violence

    The film portrays intense action sequences and violent confrontations, especially during their mission against the drug cartel. These moments highlight the dangers of their undertaking and the life-threatening situations they find themselves in. It amplifies the stakes as they confront the consequences of their ill-fated decisions.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:23

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Character & theme questions

All About the Money Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about All About the Money (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie primarily takes place in Colombia, a country in South America known for its rich culture and scenic landscapes. The setting contrasts the region's natural beauty with its dark association with drug trafficking and violence, which serves as a backdrop for the characters' dangerous journey.

  • colombia
  • setting
  • south america
  • location
  • drug cartels
Q2

What time period is the movie set in?

The events of the film unfold in 2016, a period marked by significant political and social changes in various parts of the world. This era was particularly relevant to the story as drug trafficking and crime were prevalent issues affecting lives and communities in South America.

  • 2016
  • time period
  • year
  • contemporary
  • era
Q3

What are the main themes explored in the film?

The movie explores three primary themes: Wealth and Greed, which drives characters to extreme lengths and blurs moral lines; Friendship and Betrayal, showing how relationships are tested by external forces and personal agendas; and Action and Violence, depicting dangerous confrontations that highlight the life-threatening stakes of their mission.

  • themes
  • greed
  • friendship
  • betrayal
  • action
  • violence
  • wealth
Q4

What is the movie about thematically?

Thematically, the movie critiques how the pursuit of wealth can lead to poor decision-making and moral compromise. The characters' desperation for a better life leads them to chase a substantial bounty, which ultimately brings chaos and conflict. Their journey reflects larger societal issues of desperation and the lengths people will go to escape financial ruin.

  • themes
  • meaning
  • message
  • pursuit of money
  • desperation
Q5

Who are the main characters?

The film features four key characters: Vince, a struggling vacuum cleaner salesman desperate for change; Chris, dealing with the fallout of a failed marriage; Kurt, a seemingly comfortable character drawn into the dangerous world of drug trade; and John Waters, a formidable ally with military background who brings experience and unconventional strategies to the group.

  • characters
  • vince
  • chris
  • kurt
  • john waters
  • cast
Q6

What motivates Vince in the story?

Vince is motivated by his desperation for a better life. As a man struggling to make ends meet selling vacuum cleaners, his ambition has crumbled, leading him to join his friends on a reckless adventure. He represents the struggle of those yearning for change but caught in the throes of past failures.

  • vince
  • motivation
  • desperation
  • financial struggle
  • character arc
Q7

Why is Colombia significant to the story?

Colombia serves as both a scenic backdrop and a dangerous setting representing the world of drug cartels. The country's rich culture and landscapes contrast with its dark history of drug trafficking and violence, which directly impacts the characters' chaotic journey and their struggle for redemption.

  • colombia
  • drug cartels
  • setting
  • worldbuilding
  • background
Q8

How does friendship factor into the movie?

Friendship and Betrayal is a central theme, as the strained relationships among the three friends are tested by external forces and personal agendas. Their bond reflects the complexities of human relationships amidst chaos, especially when they face moral dilemmas about their choices and loyalties.

  • friendship
  • betrayal
  • relationships
  • loyalty
  • trio
  • bonds
Q9

What is Chris dealing with personally?

Chris is dealing with the fallout of a failed marriage and the complexities of his wife's affluent relationship. His character embodies the conflict between personal aspirations and familial obligations, making his journey a search for identity and purpose amidst the chaos of their mission.

  • chris
  • marriage
  • divorce
  • personal struggle
  • character backstory
Q10

What kind of tone does the movie have?

The movie has a predominantly tense tone, stemming from characters being consistently out of their depth and in peril. However, it also incorporates comedic elements due to the genre and the inherent absurdity of the trio's incompetence, providing levity against the serious backdrop of violence and danger.

  • tone
  • mood
  • comedy
  • tension
  • humor
  • genre
Q11

Who is Kurt and what drives him?

Kurt appears to have a comfortable life but is ultimately driven by greed, leading him into a precarious situation with the drug trade. His transformation from a seemingly secure character to a key player in a dangerous environment illustrates the impact of temptation and poor choices.

  • kurt
  • greed
  • temptation
  • character transformation
  • motivation
Q12

What kind of movie is it genre-wise?

All About the Money is an Action-Adventure-Comedy film. It combines intense action sequences and violent confrontations with comedic moments stemming from the characters' incompetence. The genre blend creates a fast-paced narrative that mixes high-stakes danger with humor.

  • genre
  • action
  • adventure
  • comedy
  • movie type
  • tone

Movie threads

More Movies Like All About the Money, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes All About the Money tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Bumbling Amateurs in High-Stakes Danger like in All About the Money

Inexperienced characters stumble through serious peril, creating chaotic comedy. If you liked the mix of comedy and tension in All About the Money, explore more movies where inexperienced characters bumble their way through serious danger. These films feature fast-paced, chaotic adventures where humor comes from incompetence against a backdrop of real stakes, perfect for fans of similar action comedies.

  • chaotic
  • mischievous
  • frantic
  • adventurous
  • anxious
  • unpredictable
  • Tone: tense, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a group of ordinary, often inept, characters who impulsively enter a dangerous world, such as crime or espionage. Their journey is marked by a series of misadventures and close calls, where their sheer luck and chaotic energy somehow see them through, often leading to an unpredictable but satisfying resolution.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here by their unique blend of high-stakes tension and character-driven comedy. The central similarity is the emotional and narrative whiplash of watching lovable fools surviving serious danger through a mix of accident and resourcefulness, creating a consistently frantic and amusing tone.

Frenetic Money Chases like in All About the Money

Characters driven by financial ruin embark on a reckless, high-speed chase. Find more movies like All About the Money that revolve around a frantic quest for a desperate financial payout. These similar stories feature fast-paced adventures, bounty hunters, and rescue missions where characters are driven by economic despair into dangerous, unpredictable situations, blending tension with adventurous action.

  • frantic
  • anxious
  • adventurous
  • unpredictable
  • desperate
  • chaotic
  • Tone: tense, adventurous
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is a straightforward quest arc triggered by a character's dire financial need. They pursue a MacGuffin—a bounty, treasure, or score—that leads them into a dangerous underworld. The journey is a rapid-fire series of obstacles and confrontations, testing their resolve and often forcing them to reconsider what they're willing to risk.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core narrative engine: a desperate need for money propelling a fast-paced, dangerous adventure. The similarity lies in the mix of financial motivation, high-speed pacing, and the tension of amateurs navigating a professional criminal landscape, resulting in a specific vibe of reckless ambition.

If you liked this

Movies Like All About the Money

Similar movies to All About the Money: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

All About the Money (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about All About the Money in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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