Bringing Down the House | Rotten Tomatoes

Bringing Down the House

PG-13

Released Mar 7, 2003

1 hr. 45 min.

Comedy

List

34%

151 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Though the cast shines, they can't save this comedy, which is overly contrived and filled with outdated and offensive racial jokes.

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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

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 1.75 hours with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah, who in turn, prove she didn't commit a crime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Less boring than being a beauty pageant contestant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Even after 20 years this is still a very good comedy There's issues that keep it from being perfect But it's lined with lots of funny stuff along with a terrific cast Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy, Kimberly J. Brown, Missi Pyle, Joan Plowright, and Betty White Peter is a successful attorney with two kids; however he's divorced, has to put up with his gold digger sister-in-law and is a workaholic Peter considers dating an online internet girl named Charlene who's also a lawyer but surprise.....it turns out she's an African American ex-con who's hoping can win her case His biggest client is Mrs. Arness of a coffee conglomerate so all has to go well or his career is on the line Lots of laugh out loud moments even if most of these racial jokes are very outdated at this point Latifah and Martin are the best parts with a script that's pretty generic as they come A highly forgettable odd couple comedy and not for everyone But I still find it a romp to watch

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/13/23

Full Review

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Adam Shankman

Director

Steve Martin

Peter Sanderson

Queen Latifah

Charlene Morton

Eugene Levy

Howie Rottman

Joan Plowright

Mrs. Arness

Jean Smart

Kate

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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

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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
Executive Producer: Jane Bartelme, Queen Latifah
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
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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