Hey folks, Harry here... I've recently been attacked by the sleeping sickness and seem to be slumbering times ten, but I'm awake for the moment, and was delighted to see Miss Roxy Hart here with another sampling of her sexy wit. This time she's dancing to the tune of Steve Martin, pull up a seat and wipe the drool, here's Roxy...
Roxy Hart here, dancing out of the gray bar hotel and into your hearts with another review.
Seems I let some of you boys down with my overly negative review of IDENTITY. Let me wreck-tify that with a new review for BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE.
I was invited to a private screening in the LA area.
Let's start by saying that Steve Martin is a mystery to me. Obvious comic-genius tapping into mediocre movies. Great concept/idea for a movie and works on some levels, but doesn't in other levels.
Oh well, here we go.
Steve Martin plays a lonely, divorced, father of two, tax attorney. While trying to attain a rich heiress client (Joan Plowright) for his law firm (and impressing his bosses, all the while), Martin maintains an online romance with what he thinks is the right woman (READ: WASP).
The night finally comes and he turns his house into the pit of desire. Unfortunately, Queen Latifiah shows up. I miss 'Mama' Morton. Fresh faced and recently escaping from prison, she informs Martin that he was mistaken when he saw the downloaded photo of her. She wasn't the white girl in the foreground, but the sister getting arrested in the background. Her words, not mine. Martin, not coming down with jungle fever, is obviously upset and kicks her out of his house. After a couple of scenes (one with a very funny and hyper racist Betty White and an unauthorized house party), Latifah blackmails Martin into taking her case and expunging the bank robbery from her records. I know that doesn't seem possible.
Subplots include Martin struggling to have an open relationship with his daughter (Kimberly Brown-the little girl from Rose Red, TV Miniseries), have his son (Angus Jones-Dennis Quaid's son from the "The Rookie") overcome his reading disability, paying more attention to his ex-wife (I believe this was Kim Cattrall, but she seemed uncredited when the credits rolled at the end) and thus getting her back, and getting the heiress account for his law firm.
A lot going on, but the pacing is steady and easy to follow. Typical Martin fare (90's to 2K, I mean): Mediocre movie spotted with hilarious scenes. Watch out for the Latifah/Missi Pyle (Cattrall's sister) catfight, any scene involving Betty White giving her two cents about minorities in America and Joan Plowright giving a rendition of an old and very touchy slave song from the South.
Decent acting from the cast. Eugene Levy as an office mate of Martin's and connoisseur of a large box of chocolate love (Latifiah) is classic. Give this guy his own TV series, already. His street slang is ghetto-rific and plays the medium of uptight white man and hip urbanite. Son and daughter go through the paces. Joan Plowright and Betty White are fine. Martin has some moments of genius and slides back into his modicum of mediocre. Why wasn't Cattrall given credit? Maybe she was in the beginning. I missed the first few minutes. Sorry.
Though, what I liked most about the movie was that the political rights movement is officially flushed out the window. Don't get me wrong, as a woman, I still get offended by many things, but folks comedy is comedy and sometimes racial lines can be curved for a good laugh without completely offending everyone. By the end, almost all the characters learn the error of their ways and though, it doesn't make what they say prior right, this is a movie and it is assumed that they learn life lessons.
They don't outright say the 'N' word, but they mind as well. Before I start a raging debate. Let me say that I think Martin or writer Jason Filardi (I believe this is his first official writing assignment) or director, Adam Shankman (Wedding Planner, Mission to Mars, Isn't She Great), were just trying to deliniate the differences between race and social status and eventually showing the similarities of us, as human beings. Just go and enjoy the movie and know that Martin is trying his best and slowly getting back to his 70's and 80's fare.
Yes, I would marginally recommend this, though I think it would be better suited to be watched on a lazy Sunday afternoon on DVD at home. Funny but not outrageously funny. Think Bowfinger.
Shooting you another review soon, I am forever
Roxy Hart
