Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a divorced workaholic L.A. lawyer trying to forget his ex-wife (Jean Smart). Successful but lonely, Peter falls for an online chat buddy and is eager to meet his dream girl, until he meets the real woman behind the screen name and realizes she is nothing like he thought. Instead of a svelte blonde businesswoman he comes face to face with Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), a sassy African-American ex-con who is eager to infiltrate Peter's stereotypically uptight white suburban world. Charlene wants Peter to defend her and prove she's innocent of a crime that she didn't commit but Peter wants nothing to do with the fast-talking homegirl. However, Peter's geeky best friend Howie (Eugene Levy) feels different and begins to woo the voluptuous diva with "hip" street lingo and hysterically deadpan come-ons. Soon enough, Charlene is shacked up in Peter's palatial estate, throwing wild parties, and opening his eyes to life, love and infectious freedom. Steve Martin and Queen Latifah are a fresh and dynamic comic team in this hysterical spin on the black-white buddy comedy that is a mixture of PRETTY WOMAN and THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR.
Theatrical release: March 7, 2003
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Pan & Scan - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Audio Commentary - 1. Adam Shankman - Director, Jason Filardi - Screenwriter
Featurette - 1. BREAKIN' DOWN BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE
2. GODFATHER OF HOP
Trailers
Music Video - 1. Queen Latifah - "Better Than The Rest"
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Distributor Notes: Bringing Down The House
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.
Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
Executive Producer
Jane Bartelme: Executive Producer, BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE (2003)
Executive Producer
Queen Latifah: Rapper/Actress
Director of Photography
Julio Macat:
Review 1:
"...There are certainly good laughs to be had..."
Source: Variety
p.43-51 02/24/2003
Review 2:
"...The CHICAGO co-star rules the roost with her brassy attitude..."
Source: Total Film
p.113 12/01/2003