The lead actor from a controversial 1990s film has addressed calls for its removal from streaming platforms. Disney, renowned for its vast movie catalog, offers classics like The Lion King, Tangled, and Moana on Disney+. However, there is one particular film from the ’90s drawing criticism for its content, with a social media user labeling it ‘super inappropriate’.
The movie in question is Blank Check, released in 1994, featuring Brian Bonsall as an 11-year-old who finds himself in possession of a blank check and uses it to purchase properties under false identities.
A particularly contentious element of the film involves the young protagonist entering a seemingly romantic relationship with an adult woman, portrayed by Karen Duffy. Duffy, who was 31 at the time, played a bank teller and FBI agent. In the film, she kisses Bonsall’s character and suggests they go on a date in six years when he would still only be 17 years old.
Bonsall has addressed the backlash with a Facebook post, seemingly downplaying the concerns about the film’s appropriateness. Despite being over two decades old, Blank Check is generating renewed discussion on social media for its contentious themes.
One viewer commented, “As I continue to rewatch movies from my childhood, I find myself constantly thinking, ‘ohh, that wouldn’t fly today’.”
Another viewer expressed disappointment, saying, “It’s sooo bad, used to be one of my favorite movies when I was a kid.”
In his Facebook message, Bonsall expressed his enjoyment of making the film, stating, “I had an absolute blast filming this movie! Everyone was a joy to work with and it’s awesome to see so many people still enjoy it!”
Fans have come to Bonsall’s defense, arguing the movie reflects a different era. One fan remarked, “Oh for god sake, leave this film alone. Not everything needs to be reassessed through a modern lens.”