I have been a fan of Steve Martin for many years. I have seen many of his movies and I usually enjoy them. I have decided to see more than one movie just because he was in it. In 2003, I first watched Brining Down the House.

Peter Sanderson was trying to adjust to life after a divorce while juggling his demanding law career and his troubled relationship with his children, Georgey and Sarah. He had established a pattern of breaking plans with his kids because of the demands of his work. He met a female lawyer in an internet chat room for lawyers. They chatted often and decided to meet at Peter’s house one night. Peter was shocked when Charlene arrived fresh from prison. She said she was innocent and she wanted Peter’s help in clearing her name. He refused at first but Charlene wouldn’t go away and she did cause a little trouble for him. She did help him reconnect with his children. Peter’s friend Howie was wildly attracted to Charlene when they met, calling her a coco goddess. In addition to dealing with his kids and trying to help Charlene, Peter was trying to get a very important client, Mrs. Arness, for the law firm.

Bringing Down the House was a funny movie, though the funniest parts were shown in the trailer. That seems to have become standard in the last several years. I did still enjoy the movie and laugh several times. Peter’s reaction when he first met Charlene was very funny and their interactions continued to provide laughs as the movie progressed. One of the funniest scenes between them took place when Charlene was giving Peter advice on how to win his ex-wife back. Howie said all kinds of bizarre things that were funny. Charlene was involved in a fight with another woman at one point that I thought was very funny. There were some racial jokes used at different times during the movie that could offend some viewers. Frankly, I didn’t think the movie needed to go that route.

I thought that the plot of Bringing Down the House was fairly unique. Several movies in the last few years have had people meeting on the internet like Peter and Charlene did and then go on to develop a romance. Peter and Charlene’s relationship didn’t go that direction. There have also been several movies that have dealt with someone trying to prove they were innocent of some crime. As far as I know, Bringing Down the House is the only movie that combined those two plot elements. Peter having to deal with a very important potential client and his rocky relationship with Sarah and Georgie did add a few complications to the movie. Peter eventually agreed to help Charlene even though he really didn’t believe that she had been framed like she insisted. Her search for evidence with Peter’s help did add a small amount of mystery to the movie. People shouldn’t go into seeing this movie expecting the mystery to be strong.

Peter originally connected with Charlene because he was lonely after his divorce from Kate. He was slowly getting back into dating. After he met Charlene, any ideas he had been entertaining about the two of them developing a romance ended. They did develop a somewhat unique friendship. Charlene started to help Peter try to win Kate back because he was still in love with her. Kate seemed to have adjusted to the divorce better and was already dating again but it became clear that she still had feelings for Peter. There was an attraction between Howie and Charlene, especially on Howie’s part. He noticed her immediately and started pursuing her. A few different characters were involved in sexual situations or discussions without there being actual sex scenes or nudity. The movie was rated PG-13 and isn’t for younger children. It would probably be all right for older children to see.

Peter was juggling a lot in his life when he met Charlene. He was still in love with his ex-wife though he was making a small effort to move on and start dating. He was trying to keep his relationship with his children from falling completely apart but that was difficult because of the all the hours his job required him to work. I liked Steve Martin in this part. I thought he was good in the part, though he has been funnier in other movies. He did get the chance to do a little bit of physical comedy. Kate, Peter’s ex-wife, really only had a few scenes, so Jean Smart didn’t get much to do. That’s too bad because I do tend to like her. Her part as Kate was a little larger than the part she had in Sweet Home Alabama. Ashley, Kate’s sister, also had a few scenes. She and Peter didn’t get along at all. Ashley was nasty to more than one person throughout the movie, which made it very difficult to like her. She was a very flat character and all that was really shown about her was that she hated Peter and chased after older, rich men. Missi Pyle, who had small parts in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was good in the part.

Charlene was outspoken and a bit wild, which did cause complications between her and Peter. She was insisted about being innocent for the crime that sent her to jail and she was determined to clear her name. She did do some outrageous things at times, but she did help Peter strengthen the relationship with his kids. Queen Latifah was good and fit the part well. A few songs that she sang played at different times during the movie. I’ve also seen her in Taxi, a comedy that really wasn’t that good. Howie was one of Peter’s friends and worked at the same law firm with him. Howie was more relaxed than Peter. Howie said some very outrageous things at times. Eugene Levy was great in the part. He said some things at times in a more serious manner that were very funny. Levy and Martin worked well together. They reunited in 2005 for Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Betty White had a small part of Peter’s nosy neighbor Mrs. Kline. She also had a tendency to say horribly racist things. Joan Plowright was very good as the uptight Mrs. Arness. She also said some racist things. Sarah and Georgey were in several scenes, though they really weren’t that developed. Kimberly J. Brown and Angus T. Jones were fine in the parts. Brown had a part in Be Cool. Some of the characters were very prejudiced and only used for comedy.

Main CAST

Kimberly J. Brown - Sarah
Angus T. Jones - Georgey
Queen Latifah - Charlene
Eugene Levy - Howie
Steve Martin - Peter
Joan Plowright - Mrs. Arness
Missi Pyle - Ashley
Jean Smart - Kate
Beatty White - Mrs. Kline

Adam Shankman - Director

DVD INFORMATION

There is a widescreen and full screen DVD version of Bringing Down the House. The movie is also available on VHS. The DVD contains a few special features. There are deleted scenes and a gag reel. Some of the things in the gag reel were just silly and not really funny. There was a music video for one of Queen Latifah’s songs. There are two featurettes. One of them contains interviews with the cast, director, producers, and the writer about making the movie. Some scenes did show how the movie was made. There is also a commentary with the director and the writer.

Bringing Down the House was a funny, entertaining movie. It did have some problems and some of the racist jokes could offend some viewers. Fans of Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, or Queen Latifah should enjoy the movie.

I would have given this movie three and a half stars if I had that option. Since I don't, I'm rounding up to four stars.

Steve Martin Movie Reviews
Novocaine ~ Looney Tunes: Back in Action ~ Housesitter ~ Cheaper by the Dozen ~ Cheaper by the Dozen 2 ~


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12