Bringing Down The House

Triumphant from her Oscar nominated success in 'Chicago', Queen Latifah lives up to Steve Martin's considerable comic prowess in this hilarious movie.

A prime example of how superior performances can salvage a mediocre script and feeble storyline, Martin, Latifah and Eugene Levy combine to transform this picture into a rewarding movie-going experience.

Comedy isn't all in the material. Funny lines and amusing gags are only half the battle; the rest is in the delivery and that is where this accomplished trio excel. Some of what is found in this movie is laugh-worthy only because of the way in which the actors emote and react. Put three less accomplished comedic performers in these roles and 'Bringing Down the House' might well collapse with an audible thud.

Peter Sanderson (Martin) is a successful, but uptight and straight-laced, tax attorney who has sacrificed his personal life for his professional one. Consequently his wife, Kate (Jean Smart), has divorced him and taken the kids and Peter still can't quite figure out what he did to make her leave him.

Trying to move on, Peter strikes up an internet friendship with someone named "Lawyer Girl". Thinking he has found someone with similar interests, he quickly becomes smitten and invites her over for drinks. However, instead of the svelte, refined Ivy League WASP he is expecting, he comes face to face with voluptuous, loud, outrageous African American, Charlene Norton (Latifah), a prison escapee who's proclaiming her innocence and wants Peter to help clear her name.

Peter does everything he can to extricate himself from the situation, but Latifah won't take no for an answer and her presence in Peter's home turns his perfectly ordered life upside down, bringing welcome distraction to his bored kids, confusion to his still-interested but cautious ex-wife and jeopardizing his efforts to woo a billion dollar client.

Whilst Peter is doing his best to distance himself from Charlene, his infatuated co-worker and friend, Howie, (Eugene Levy) is trying to get closer to her.

Amidst all the havoc, a sweet friendship emerges between Peter and Charlene, with her helping him to loosen up and realise that he is still in love with his wife.

Some of 'Bringing Down the House's biggest laughs comes from the way in which it lampoons racial stereotyping and intolerance. Peter's boss is a bigot, his big client (Joan Plowright, taking "stiff upper lip" to new heights of inflexibility) is so politically incorrect that she sees nothing wrong in singing offensive slave songs around the dinner table and his busybody neighbor (Betty White) is rampantly prejudiced. However, Charlene delights in toying with them all. Then there's the scene in which Peter dresses like a gangbanger and visits an urban bar, where he gets down with the black brothers. Martin manages to carry this off with hilarious results.

Director Adam Shankman ('The Wedding Planner' and 'A Walk to Remember') mines ample comic gold from his ready-for-anything cast.

Latifah's confident, sassy and engaging performance carries the comedy through the weaker parts and her energetic presence also seems to have rubbed off on Martin, who regains some of his old "wild and crazy" persona, after playing it a little more sober in recent years.

Latifah and Martin together display a degree of comedic chemistry that is alone worth the price of admission and Levy, as always, manages to steal nearly every scene he's in. Think of his routines in 'American Pie', 'Serendipity' and 'Best in Show' - no-one does deadpan better. Meanwhile, Plowright makes the most of her opportunity to have some fun with her "Grande Old Dame" image.

For those who care about such things, there's a moral about tolerance, but the main pleasure of 'Bringing Down the House' is watching the stars interact.

John Gold
Film Critic, Kikizo Movies