marbleann Review of Bringing Down the House

Bringing Down the House (2003)

Olivier must be Spinning and Laughing in his grave...

[7/10 · 22 April 2005]

I am normally not a fan of these type of movies. But one night I was up and it was on the TV and to my surprise I actually thought it was funny. It is a very broad type comedy. Something that Jerry Lewis would of done in his heyday with Dino playing the Levy part. The Queen plays a escaped con trying to clear herself. When she shows up at Martins door for a blind date and points out she was indeed in the picture of the women he thought was going to date it was hilarious. No big deal but a quick funny scene which explains why she is there. She is a very good actress. I have never seen her play a role badly. I have seen her in bad movies but she is always good. Now only if they do the Pearl Bailey story because she looks and talks just like her. I guess Steve Martin being a TAX lawyer is suppose to tell us he is more then a little uptight. He is out to woo a rich client played by Dame Joan Plowright who has one of the funniest offensive scenes I have ever seen in a movie. Only in Mel Brooks movies could that scene be pulled off but she does a good job. It just shows what a great actress can do to a part which is very insensitive. She goes to dinner one night at Martins house and Queen is forced to play a maid. Plowright starts reminiscing about one of the old maids that worked for her when she was young. Then she starts singing this "Negro Spiritual" that Ivy's brother after a day in the tobacco fields use to sing.. Is massa going to sell us tomorrow... Like in the Springtime For Hitler mode it sounds so revolting but it is hilarious. Sir Larry must be spinning in his grave. The movie had racist characters such as Martins ex sister in Law who preyed on sick old men. It is established that she is a real bad guy. The part which really bothered me was the Eugene Levy attack of Jungle Fever character. He din't like Charlene because she was a nice he liked her because of his perception of black women being sexual hot mama's. And he was treated as a sympathetic character unlike the other racist idiots in the movie such as the sister in law, the neighbor and the client. Other then that big problem it was a funny flick. When Martin goes to a night club to confront Charlenes' ex he is in his element..physical comedy. And for once I thought he was funny. I usually like Steve Martin in his serious roles like I feel about Robin Williams. I can't take that broad slapstick comedy that they both are famous for. But for some reason in this movie it is endearing. Oh and catch Steve Harris playing a real bad guy..a real change of character for him.