Product Details

• Actors: Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy, Joan Plowright, Jean Smart
• Directors: Adam Shankman
• Writers: Jason Filardi
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (241 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JM4B
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,720 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Bringing Down The House (Widescreen Edition)" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The pleasingly contrasting comic styles of Queen Latifah and Steve Martin bring some energy to Bringing Down the House, a hopelessly formulaic comedy. Martin plays Peter, an uptight lawyer too obsessed with work to spend quality time with his kids. Into his life comes Queen Latifah as Charlene, an escaped convict who threatens to wreck his relationship with a wealthy but arch-conservative client (Joan Plowright, in high dudgeon) if Peter won't take up her case. Of course, Latifah's exuberant ways enchant his kids and bring out a looser, livelier side of Peter, all in a series of scenes so standard they hardly register. Thank goodness for Eugene Levy; as one of Peter's law partners with a taste for Charlene's bodacious brand of sexy, Levy's ingenious transformation from nebbish to loverman is the movie's secret weapon, stealthily planting comic explosions amidst the modest rice-krispie-crackle of the stale plot. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

The hilarious Steve Martin (FATHER OF THE BRIDE) and Academy Award(R)-nominee Queen Latifah (Best Supporting Actress, 2002, CHICAGO) star with Eugene Levy (AMERICAN PIE) in the laugh-out-loud hit comedy BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE. Peter Sanderson (Martin), a divorced, straitlaced, uptight workaholic attorney, meets a brainy bombshell lawyer in an on-line chat room and they make a date. Expecting his soul mate, he opens the door and finds himself face-to-face with Charlene (Latifah) -- a wild and crazy soul "sister" who's just escaped from prison and wants Peter to clear her name. But Peter wants absolutely nothing to do with her, and that prompts Charlene to turn Peter's perfectly ordered life totally upside down. Hysterical complications abound and Peter soon finds out he may need Charlene just as much as she needs him. It's a houseful of fun your family will enjoy again and again.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good comedy!!! March 4, 2003

By Mark Twain

Steve Martin and Queen Latifah lead a wonderful cast in this surprisingly shocking, always enjoyable, laugh-out-loud comedy.

Peter Sanderson (Martin) is a divorcee who spends some of his personal time in a legal chat room, flirting with a woman he hasn't seen. His interest in her grows into a small infatuation after she sends a picture of herself via email. But when the two meet, he gets a big surprise. She's not the woman in the picture; at least not the woman seen up close in the picture. It turns out that she is an African American woman named Charlene Morton (Latifah), a criminal on parole who is seen getting arrested in the background of the picture she has sent. Slowly, Charlene begins to take over Peter's life, but perhaps that's a good thing. Despite his divorce, he and his ex-wife Kate (Jean Smart), still have feelings for each other. Having divorced because of his excessive work habits, Charlene tries to teach Peter the joys of life and how to appreciate the importance of his neglected family.

Veteran actresses Betty White and Joan Plowright are downright hilarious in their small roles, and Eugene Levy has an amusing role as Martin's best friend, who begins to fall head over heels for Charlene, further complicating matters.

Betty White is painfully funny and shocking as Martin's elderly neighbor. She is as racist as they come, jabbering cruel lines of racist dialogue (a less racy but more offensive send-up of her "Lake Placid" role). Don't take her comments to heart, though. The film is just trying to show how biggoted some people can be. (It's a shame how people like her actually exist.) Joan Plowright portrays a heiress client of Martin. She proves to be a great comedic actress, especially in the hilarious climactic nightclub scene.

Missi Pyle is fantastic as Kate's sister, a sort of Anna Nicole Smith type who takes pleasure out of dating older men. I could never have imagined Pyle in such a role, but she's great! Even Jean Smart is perfect for her role as the ex. Her Southern accent really gives her added sex appeal.

This is a predictable film, but it is also one of the funniest films to come out in the past year. It is a simple, smart, and fun comedy that's a pure joy to watch. Clever dialogue, touching moments, and a great cast are a plus. Martin and Latifah (so brilliant in Chicago) show off their wonderful comedic talents and have amazing chemistry together. The film is a bit raunchy at times, but oh so funny...recommended for a good hearty laugh!!!!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Make a House call! March 14, 2003

By Daryl B

I love going to a movie where the audience laughs during the entire movie (intentionally, that is). I wasn't expected to have so much fun during this movie but it proved to be a laugh riot. Steve Martin and Queen Latifah make a great comedy team . The supporting actors only add to the fun. Betty White as Martin's racists/homophobic neighgbor, Joan Plowright as a rigid heiress that Martin needs to bring as a client to his law firm, and Eugene Levy is hilarious as Steve Martin's best friend at the law firm, who makes no qualms about his feelings for Latifah's Charlene. The fight scene between Latifah and actress Missi Pyle is worth the admission alone. I recommended this film to a friend at work who later told me that she and her husband thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm betting you will too. Its a great film to take a group of friends to and just laugh and be silly.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The whole theatre was laughing February 28, 2003

By A Customer

I caught a sneak preview. I was not quite sure what to expect when I went to see this but I like both Queen Latifah and Steve Martin and expected to have fun. The movie was a riot! Steve Martin is funny and uptight in a seemingly whole new way and the movie has lots of unexpected twists that both crank up the laughs and the plot. The whole theatre was in stitches
There is the natural play between Latifah from the "hood" and Martin from the "uppercrust" but I didn't feel messaged by the movie.
Everyone is different but just relax and go laugh at this one, even as I was watching it I wanted to come and see it again.