AllMovie

This made-for-television movie is not the cornball anti-drug relic one might expect it to be. In fact, Death of Richie retains a considerable amount of dramatic power despite its age thanks to a solid combination of affecting performances and sensitive filmmaking. It draws its key strength from a pair of powerhouse performances by Ben Gazzara and Robby Benson. Gazzara manages to infuse his stern parent role with a carefully concealed vulnerability that surprises the viewer when it emerges and Benson throws aside his teen-idol persona to create a raw, emotionally honest portrayal of a troubled teen. These key performances are surrounded by a gallery of subtle supporting performances, the best being Eileen Brennan's quietly anguished turn as Richie's loving but ineffectual mother. All these carefully drawn performances are given a meaningful framework by John McGreevey's sensitive script, which honestly portrays the dysfunctional quality of Richie's family unit without shortchanging the amount of love they have for each other and convincingly recreates the social and personal pressures of teenage life. Death of Richie also benefits from stylish direction by Paul Wendkos, who manages to make the film's suburban surroundings look gorgeous and suffocating all at once, while giving the actors room to dig deeply into their roles in a way that made-for-television material rarely allows. The end result is not just one of the best made-for-television films of all time but a great drama, period.