Mjeteconer
Just perfect...
FirstWitch
A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Lela
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
namashi_1
Lets get one thing straight right away: Steve Martin can never be doubted. The Comedic Legend is an actor with tremendous charm & his sense of timing is no news to anyone. And in the 2003 Super-Hit 'Bringing Down The House', the Legend shines, yet again!'Bringing Down The House' Synopsis: When a lonely guy meets a woman on the internet who happens to be in prison, she breaks out to be with him, and proceeds to wreak havoc on his middle-class life.'Bringing Down The House' is a predictable, safe comedy, that goes through the narrative jumps & hiccups. Its mostly Martin's liveliness & command over the screen, that keeps the jokes coming in & the energy intact. Jason Filardi's Screenplay is nicely done, although it would've benefited from better jokes. Adam Shankman's Direction is appropriate. A Special Mention for Queen Latifah, who with Martin, takes part in the silly jokes & delivers a loud, but likable performance. And the on-screen chemistry between Martin & Latifah, is perfect.On the whole, 'Bringing Down The House' certainly works.
Sunnyrap
I heard about this film when it first came out a few years ago and gave it a wide berth. I seem to remember pretty negative reviews and the thought of the 'fun' Hollywood could have with the old culture-and-race-clash routine made me feel quite queasy. But, people, it's actually very, very good. OK, so the characters - Steve Martin's uptight white bread lawyer and Queen Latifah's wrongly-convicted-felon-from-the-hood - are drawn with very broad brush strokes. But thanks to the likability of the two leads, and a stellar supporting cast - stand up, Eugene Levy - it really works. Admittedly, I have a very broad sense of humour but there are several laugh-out-loud scenes, not least Steve Martin's wigga in the club routine and Joan Plowright's 'negro spiritual' at dinner scene. What I like about it most of all is that it's not afraid to tackle its racial stereotypes head on. Dyed-in-the-wool racists - and there are a good few in the film - don't suddenly convert by the end so there are no cheap feel-good scenes tacked on by the screenwriters to add bucks to the box office or a veneer of political correctness. Despite the stereotypes, the characters grow - for the most part - organically. Bringing down the House is what it is - a comedy verging on farce with no pretensions to anything greater - and it's not afraid to go for it. Watch and enjoy.
Jackson Booth-Millard
I saw the trailer for this film, it looked amusing at points, and then I read it was one out of five stars, but I tried it anyway, from director Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner, Cheaper by the Dozen 2). Basically Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a divorced attorney who can't understand why his ex-wife Kate (Jean Smart), who he still loves, left him. He is trying to move on, and has met a girl on an internet chat-room, known only as "Lawyer Girl", and he has suggested they meet at his house, but of course, a completely different person show up at his doorstep. It is African American ghetto girl Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), in the background of the photo he received, she is a prison escapee who wants to prove she wasn't involved with a robbery. It takes a while for Peter to agree to help her, as she is turning his life upside down, stopping him from trying to get back with Kate, and wooing billion dollar client, Virginia Arness (Joan Plowright). There is the obvious small sentiment, and the moment Peter can't take anymore, but he realises her innocence when an African American criminal threatens him with a gun. So he dresses to get into the hood, to get to this criminal and get a confession that he set Charlene up, and, it works. Oh, it should be mentioned, Peter's work buddy Howie Rottman (Eugene Levy) becomes infatuated by Charlene, and vice versa. Also starring Kimberly J. Brown as Sarah Sanderson, Angus T. Jones as Georgey Sanderson, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Missi Pyle as Ashley, Michael Rosenbaum as Todd Gendler, Betty White as Mrs. Kline and Steve Harris as Widow. I guess I giggled a little when Martin's tummy rumbles from taking laxative or whatever, and dressed for the hood, but I can see why the critics give it the amount of stars it has. It's filled with stereotypes, it doesn't have any decent comedy (well, no comedy period), and indeed Martin and Latifah are pretty forced together, it's just a bit boring. Pretty poor!
John E
This film relied on poor quality and outdated racial stereotypes for its humour. In general, the script wasn't particularly funny and a fair bit of it bordered upon unpleasant. For example, were there, in 2003, really still neighbourhoods in the US where the sight of a black person would cause great surprise (note Betty White's contribution)? The film lacked heart and humour and was predictable throughout - I find it quite hard to believe that those involved became and remained involved on a project such as this. Final thought; about half way through the film Steve Martin mentioned a potential career to Queen Latifah but, in the end, the script writers couldn't even be bothered to give her character this. Instead they just had her doing a bit of hairdressing!! Oh dear!!
