BDTH is among Steve Martin's worst (though I haven't seen Novocaine, which rated poorly). While acting was an issue, the poor script takes the biggest fall, especially when dealing with racial issues.
Making no bold moves, the script stays right on track through the very last scene, slathering cliche on top of cliche. Charlene (Queen Latifah), freshly escaped from prison where she was doing time for a crime she didn't commit, worms her way into 'tighty whitey' Peter's (Martin) home. After various run-ins (including Peter having his upscale house turned into an all-black neighbor-offending house party), Peter helps Charlene clear her name while she helps him reorganize the priorities of his life.
All the wrong anti-black racist undertones were here to be seen. Charlene is a convict. She resorts to violence when pushed. Her values are compromised (she lets Peter's young son read a 'personals' magazine called "Jugz"). She is willing to let her conviction defeat her self-image.
Through the movie, Howie (Eugene Levy) courts Charlene all the while spouting 'ghetto-talk' resulting in another misfire. Neighbor Mrs. Kline (Betty White) calls black people 'negros', and arms herself with a golf club when she hears 'negro talk' going on outside. This isn't funny, just offensive.
What should have been a fluffy comedy with Martin's trademark antics instead turns into a dreary, boring 105 minute wait for the oh-so-tightly-wrapped-up ending that made my head hurt. If you want to see Martin, watch "L.A. Story" again. When I saw the DVD I wrongly thought a Martin/Levy collaboration would be a blast. I won't be watching this again.
Making no bold moves, the script stays right on track through the very last scene, slathering cliche on top of cliche. Charlene (Queen Latifah), freshly escaped from prison where she was doing time for a crime she didn't commit, worms her way into 'tighty whitey' Peter's (Martin) home. After various run-ins (including Peter having his upscale house turned into an all-black neighbor-offending house party), Peter helps Charlene clear her name while she helps him reorganize the priorities of his life.
All the wrong anti-black racist undertones were here to be seen. Charlene is a convict. She resorts to violence when pushed. Her values are compromised (she lets Peter's young son read a 'personals' magazine called "Jugz"). She is willing to let her conviction defeat her self-image.
Through the movie, Howie (Eugene Levy) courts Charlene all the while spouting 'ghetto-talk' resulting in another misfire. Neighbor Mrs. Kline (Betty White) calls black people 'negros', and arms herself with a golf club when she hears 'negro talk' going on outside. This isn't funny, just offensive.
What should have been a fluffy comedy with Martin's trademark antics instead turns into a dreary, boring 105 minute wait for the oh-so-tightly-wrapped-up ending that made my head hurt. If you want to see Martin, watch "L.A. Story" again. When I saw the DVD I wrongly thought a Martin/Levy collaboration would be a blast. I won't be watching this again.