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Bringing Down the House

PG-13 Released Mar 7, 2003 1h 45m Comedy List
34% Tomatometer 151 Reviews 49% Audience Score 250,000+ Ratings Lawyer Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) wants to dive back into dating after his divorce and has a hard time meeting the right women. But he lucks out with online dating and meets a fellow lawyer. The two agree to meet in the flesh, but the woman he meets -- an escaped African-American convict named Charlene (Queen Latifah) -- is not what he expected. Peter is freaked out, but Charlene convinces him to take her case and prove her innocence, and along the way they learn to become friends. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

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Bringing Down the House

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Critics Consensus

Though the cast shines, they can't save this comedy, which is overly contrived and filled with outdated and offensive racial jokes.

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Critics Reviews

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Rachel Swan Bitch Media The film fails as a satire because it's plenty racist on its own. Dec 17, 2020 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Martin and Latifah rule in boundary-pushing PG-13. Rated: 3/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Steve Martin and Queen Latifah? Who woulda thunk it! But kudos to that brainchild! Nov 7, 2019 Full Review Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com It's a wheezing, rusted machine of cheap jokes, cartoon performances, and crummy plotting, using shock value and insensitivity to make its painfully unfunny points. Rated: D Jul 26, 2012 Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis Everything about this film is painfully familiar, except, perhaps, for the vicious-but-comic catfight between Latifah and Missi Pyle, who plays a high-society gold digger. Rated: 4/10 May 12, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nathan W They sure laid the stereotypes on thick in this one. Some of the bits i thought were in jest but others were downright cringy. So much so, that I'm surprised they were even allowed back in 2003. Modern day sensitivities aside, I thought this movie worked well enough and was a slightly above average comedy. Queen Latifah and Steve Martin had some chemistry together, and their overall personas kept what could have been a more offensive film feeling light and wholesome. Plus, Eugene Levy trying to talk dirty the whole movie... hilarious! It provides some genuine laughs but much of my amusement came from the outlandish situations that were presented. The main plot didn't really get going until almost the end of the film, and then there wasn't enough time to make it interesting. Still, if you can get past some of the more obvious flaws here, it's not a bad watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/12/24 Full Review Max B This movie was very cringy with its racial jokes and stereotypes heavily relied for comedic humor. It just got more discomforting throughout the film. They could not make a movie like this today. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/09/24 Full Review M B Of course, it's ridiculous, and many must find it offensive with the over the top stereotypes. But there was a movie in there somewhere, and if someone had some guts, and paired up Steve martin and Queen Latifah with some courage- this could have been really good. They had a sparky chemistry together, and they are both funny. But we were given the watered down chicken version. It had some very funny scenes in it, and great music. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/24 Full Review Danny T Hideous. Disgusting. Offensive. Impossible to understand how these seemingly respectable actors could stop so low. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/24 Full Review Jonathan One of the very best comedies ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/24 Full Review Ryan T People are so sensitive now days and understandably so. But all offense aside.... This movie is HILARIOUS! 🤣 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Lawyer Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) wants to dive back into dating after his divorce and has a hard time meeting the right women. But he lucks out with online dating and meets a fellow lawyer. The two agree to meet in the flesh, but the woman he meets -- an escaped African-American convict named Charlene (Queen Latifah) -- is not what he expected. Peter is freaked out, but Charlene convinces him to take her case and prove her innocence, and along the way they learn to become friends.
Director
Adam Shankman
Producer
David Hoberman, Ashok Amritraj
Screenwriter
Jason Filardi
Distributor
Touchstone Pictures
Production Co
Buena Vista (Walt Disney), Touchstone Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Drug Material|Sexual Humor)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 7, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$132.5M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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