Bringing Down the House (2003)
Written by Jason Filardi / Directed by Adam Shankman
Starring Steve Martin, Queen Latifah and Eugene Levy
105 mins / Touchstone / Rated PG-13
Retail: $29.99 / Street: $22
by Alex Mestas 8/17/2003
More info: Bringing Down the House
DVD Cover
The Cover
Bringing Down the House is a strange movie, a comedy that straddles the line between Rated R and PG-13 movie. The inciting racial humor and cultural collisions all meld together with a saccharine sweetness that's not exactly right. The movie should have either been an "80's-like comedy" offensive, and interesting, or a sweet Parenthood type flick. Instead it strives for both and unfortunately doesn't excel in either.

Steve Martin plays Peter Sanderson, a respected attorney trying to land a stuck-up, big fish client. Being a recently divorced man, Sanderson sets out on the adventurous world of internet dating. I'll just skip all the contrivances of a normal review. You've seen the commercial. Hell, even from the DVD cover, you know what happens: Charlene shows up.

As played by the big and sexy (yes, I said it and I mean it) Queen Latifah, Charlene literally charges into Peter's life, causing him problems and then, predictably, helping him get out of problems of his own. You've seen enough movies, so I need not explain what goes down and how. It's not completely rote and predictable, but it's close enough. There are plenty of cultural mix-ups, people fall in love and old white ladies start jive talking and smoking blunts.

In fact many of the best laughs are the most offensive, and it's here that the movie really shines. As the bigoted neighbor of Steve Martin, Betty White rehashes her foulmouthed shtick from Placid Lake. We may have seen it before, but that doesn't mean it isn't funny. The rest of the cast is great, with Eugene Levy putting in another great comedic performance. He may play the same type of character, but at least it's a character we enjoy.

Bringing Down the House is a movie that's mostly harmless fun, but it showcases an uncomfortable scene that "straddles" that line between PG-13 and R, in which Charlene shows Peter what women want. The fact that they don't actually succumb to the actions they demonstrate so enthusiastically is frustrating and a little illogical. Maybe this is just me, but if a busty girl got all grindy on my lap and I was as liquored as Teddy Kennedy on his birthday, I would DO something about it. OK, my reviewing has officially crossed over in the too personal to ever become professional category. Whoops.

Movie Grade: C+

Video: 4 out of 5
I didn't notice a damn thing wrong with this transfer. It's beautiful, crisp and clean.
Widescreen Anamorphic - 2.35:1
Latifah and Martin
That's definitely a prison 'fro..

Audio: 4 out of 5
Music plays an integral part to the movie, with bass heavy beats being the most important. The track deliver in this aspect, but otherwise, it's your typical comedy sounding track: dialogue heavy and a few rear effects for emphasis.
English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Extras: 3.5 out of 5
This one of those discs that seem to have a lot of extra junk when you look at the contents on the cover, but mostly turn out to be fluff. The gag reel just isn't that funny. In fact, some of the things you see in the 20 minute, above average behind the scenes featurette, are funnier than the flubs. The other major extra is the director's commentary with writer Filardi and director Shankman. It's a little unfocused and more anecdotal than technical, but it's an interesting enough listen if you love the movie.

Overall: 3.5 out of 5
This is one of those movies in which I ask myself one question to determine if I'm going to recommend it or not: did I enjoy it? I did. Not immensely, but it provide enough laughs and interesting goings-on to allow me to stare at the screen in a bemused fugue.

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