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Actors: Queen Latifah, Steve Martin, Eugene Levy
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Bringing Down the House |
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Peter Sanderson (Martin) is a divorced, uptight, workaholic tax attorney who meets a bombshell lawyer over the Internet. They make a date but to his surprise, the lawyer turns out to be a wild and crazy soul sister named Charlene (Latifah) who's just gotten out of prison and wants Peter to clear her name. Peter wants nothing to do with her but she has other plans in mind. Charlene proceeds to turn Peter's orderly life upside down!
--Patti Illsley, Resident Scholar
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Peter (Steve Martin) is an uptight, very conservative lawyer who is ready to get back in the dating game after his divorce. He thinks he has met the perfect match in on online chat room - petite, blonde lawyer, Charlene. They are going to meet for the first time that evening for dinner and Peter is sure that they have a lot in common.
So when Charlene (Queen Latifah), big, loud and black shows up for dinner, Peter is certain that she has the wrong house. Turns out that Charlene escaped from prison and is out to prove that she was innocent of the crime she was convicted of and she needs Peter's help. Peter, who can't afford to be seen with someone who is black and an ex-con, quickly gets rid of her by trickery, only to find her back at his house the next day having a pool party.
After Charlene threatens to ruin Peter's chance at winning a big new account for his firm, an account with an ultra conservative, aged, very wealthy widow (Joan Plowright), Peter agrees to help Charlene out a little. However, as Peter gets more involved in the case, he comes to discover that Charlene really is innocent. Now Peter must call upon all of his talents to blend in at an all-black hip hop club and catch the real killer...
I must admit that I was disappointed in this film. The trailers looked so funny and I was excited to see someone trying to deal with racism in our society today, especially among upper middle class whites, but I thought a lot of the film was simply distastefully presented. I was watching this movie with my sisters, brother-in-law, and my parents and I was embarrassed. I fast-forwarded through whole chapters on the DVD, simply because I felt that the humor was grossly inappropriate for my nephews, who were also watching the show. The movie did have a few funny parts, such as the ending where Steve Martin is at the hip hop club and trying to dance and speak like a black person, but I found the funny parts few and far between. The plot was also way too simplistic and I felt that it could have been made a bit more original, especially with the talents employed here to make the film. If you are looking for something to watch late at night, with friends of your own age, this may be something that you would consider renting, but don't go out of your way to watch this.
--Debbie, Resident Scholar
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Queen Latifah plays a woman who is released from jail and put into the custody of a lawyer (Steve Martin). She immediately proceeds to turn Martin's world upside down. Additionally, one of Martin's acquaintances develops a crush on Latifah, and he delivers one of the film's most memorable funny lines when he tells her, "You got me straight-trippin' Boo." Even Martin's son loves Latifah, and it makes Martin very annoyed.
--Teddy, Resident Scholar
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A lawyer meets a woman on the internet who happens to be a fugitive. She needs help to prove she is not a criminal.
--M.Y.Prasetyo, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Bringing Down the House |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Comedy, primarily
Yes
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Kind of comedy
- irritating stalker/helper
How much humor v. drama
- Mostly humor, but some serious drama
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- a lawyer creature
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- white
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Body type
- (woman) ample bosom & buttocks
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- accused criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Body type
- (man) muscular
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- bulging muscles
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
- Los Angeles
Misc setting
- resort/hotel
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
- Some foul language
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Rap/hip-hop
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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