Bringing Down the House (2003)

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.

Director:

Adam Shankman

Writer:

Jason Filardi

Stars:

Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy

4 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Peter Sanderson
Queen Latifah	...	Charlene Morton
Eugene Levy	...	Howie Rottman
Joan Plowright	...	Virginia Arness
Jean Smart	...	Kate Sanderson
Kimberly J. Brown	...	Sarah Sanderson
Angus T. Jones	...	Georgey Sanderson
Missi Pyle	...	Ashley
Michael Rosenbaum	...	Todd Gendler
Betty White	...	Mrs. Kline
Steve Harris	...	Widow
Jim Haynie	...	Ed Tobias
Aengus James	...	Mike
Jernard Burks	...	Widow's Bodyguard
Bronzell Miller	...	Widow's Bodyguard

Storyline

Peter Sanderson is a divorced, straight-laced, uptight attorney who still loves his ex-wife and can't figure out what he did wrong to make her leave him. However, Peter's trying to move on, and he's smitten with a brainy, bombshell barrister he's been chatting with online. However, when she comes to his house for their first face-to-face, she isn't refined, isn't Ivy League, and isn't even a lawyer. Instead, it's Charlene, a prison escapee who's proclaiming her innocence and wants Peter to help her clear her name. But Peter wants nothing to do with her, prompting the loud and shocking Charlene to turn Peter's perfectly ordered life upside down, jeopardizing his effort to get back with his wife and woo a billion dollar client.

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Plot Keywords:

lawyer | divorce | bar fight | party | gun | 

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Taglines:

Everything he needed to know about life, she learned in prison.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual humor and drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Touchstone site at Yahoo.com

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

In the Houze

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$33,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$360,146 (South Africa) (8 August 2003)

Gross:

$884,848 (South Africa) (12 September 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Hyde Park Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jason Filardi's original screenplay was entitled "Jailbabe.com". He had Adam Sandler and Angelina Jolie in mind when he first wrote it.

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Goofs

After Peter tries to lock Charlean outside of the house when he first meets her, and she is yelling in the yard. When he tackles her and then throws her in the pushes she says "wait, my shoes". After telling the noisy neighbor that everything is fine and as Peter starts walking her back inside from the shot from outside of the house Peter has nothing in his hands. But when they step in side he magically has one of her shoes in his hand and sets it on the table.

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Quotes

Howie Rottman: I'd like to dip you in Cheez Wiz and spread you all over a Ritz cracker, if I'm not being too subtle.
Charlene Morton: Boy, you some kinda freaky!
Howie Rottman: Oh, you have no idea. You got me straight trippin', boo!

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to residents of McCadden Place.

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Connections

References The Jerry Springer Show (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Let Go"
Written by Just Blaze, Eve and Frankie Beverly
Produced by Just Blaze
Performed by Eve
Courtesy of Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records
Contains a sample from "Before I Let Go" (1981)
Performed by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & TV Music

User Reviews

Beware of who you meet in the chat room.

This film, although badly reviewed by many people, proves to be a fun time at the movies. Adam Shankman and Jason Filardi have teamed up to give the viewers lots of laughs. It's hard not to be amused by what's being presented even though it might not be the greatest, or the funniest picture.

Queen Latifah has more charisma in her ample body than any other actress working in American films these days. She never gives a bad performance. This is quite a stretch from her role in Chicago; in fact, she steals the film with her charm. She can hold up her own against her co-star.

Steve Martin seems to blend himself into this joke of a lawyer, who is so uptight and anal that he never has enough time for his children. He has some hysterical scenes at the hip hop club playing an Eminem-type character, outdancing everyone. Mr. Martin's experience in the chat room brings him a lot more than he bargained for: the irrisistible Charlene, who turns his life upside down.

Eugene Levy has some bright moments as Steve Martin's friend in the firm. Joan Plowright repeats herself into the role of the ogre with a heart of gold, once she loosens up with the right kind of smoke. The rest of the cast is good, working with the material they're given to perform.

If you are trying to get away from the horrible news being bombarded at us these days, this is the film for you.