New On Video: Latifah's 'House,' 'What A Girl Wants'
Latifah, Martin Are Perfect Comedy Duo
POSTED: 12:42 p.m. EDT August 8, 2003
'Bringing Down the House' (PG-13) If you like your house rocked with laughter, then you'll be happy to know that Queen Latifah and funnyman Steve Martin bring out the laughs in a big way in "Bringing Down the House" -- a comedy of mistaken identity that's given its spark by the infectious enthusiasm of its talented cast.
Martin plays Peter Sanderson, a divorced, workaholic attorney who still pines for the affection of his ex-wife (Jean Smart), yet is losing hope when she takes another suitor. Turning to the Internet, he meets what he thinks is his match in Lawyer-Girl, an online user who leads him to believe she's an Ivy League attorney.
When it comes to meeting his match face to face, Peter finds that the "Lawyer-Girl's" name is Charlene (Latifah), and she's got a legal background, alright: she's a convicted prisoner who needs an attorney to help her clear her name - and she cajoles her way into moving in with Peter and his two kids (Kimberly J. Brown and Angus T. Jones) until she can get it done.
The problem is, Charlene's hip-hopping ways are the complete opposite of Peter's uptight, straight-laced lifestyle: and that's a huge problem when it comes to his plans to woo a billion-dollar client (Joan Plowright) to his firm, and hopes of reuniting with his ex-wife.
"Bringing Down the House" is hardly original -- in fact, its story screams "The Odd Couple" -- but the dialogue is so hilarious, and the acting is so impeccable that it hardly matters. Latifah is lovable as Charlene, and Martin is in his element as the out-of-touch attorney -- as his slow assimilation to her hip-hop slang provides the film with its funniest moments.
Equally as funny is Eugene Levy, who plays a fellow attorney in Peter's firm that has a serious thing for Charlene, and Missi Pyle ("Galaxy Quest") who stars in a pivotal role as Peter's pain-in-the-butt ex-sister-in-law. Television veteran Betty White (interview) grabs some laughs, too, in a small, but hilarious role as Peter's bigoted neighbor.
It's quite likely that viewers will argue that "Bringing Down the House" relies on racial stereotypes for its humor, which in some respects is true. Sure, Peter is white and Charlene is black, and there are no doubt cultural differences between the two.
But the beauty of "Bringing Down the House" is that at the heart of the matter, we discover that Peter and Charlene are essentially the same. In the end, "Bringing Down the House" is far from being a mindless comedy.
DVD Features: Commentary with director Adam Shankman, Writer Jason Filardi and Latifah; deleted Scenes; a gag reel; a behind-the-scenes featurettes; "The Godfather of Hop" featurettes; Latifah music video "Better Than the Rest" and more.
'What A Girl Wants' (PG) Sure, its clash of cultures storyline doesn't make "What a Girl Wants" the most original film to come down the pike, but that's hardly reason to write off an otherwise charming movie that's sure to give fans of Nickelodeon television star Amanda Bynes everything they want.
Bynes stars as Daphne Reynolds, a free-spirited American teen who has celebrated each of 17 birthdays in heartbreak. She has her loving, yet unconventional mother, Libby (Kelly Preston), always by her side, but Daphne's father is never there to accompany her -- so she feels incomplete.
At least Daphne knows who he is -- Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a wealthy British aristocrat who lives in London. He and Libby are an ocean apart thanks to the deception of Henry's snobbish family, who didn't feel she was suitable for their high-class society.
So when Daphne impulsively hops a flight to London in order to find her father, there are several surprises in store. First of all, Henry, now a politician facing a crucial election, didn't know he had a daughter, and second, that daughter -- who's just like her mother -- causes an uproar with the British aristocracy. But unlike mom, will Libby change to please her pompous patriarchy?
"What a Girl Wants" has a "Princess Diaries" fish-out-water sort of feel to it, where a reluctant heir is suddenly thrust into a world opposite of hers. It's a tried and true comedy formula, and the success of that formula usually relies on whether its actors can deliver the goods or not.
With "What a Girl Wants," the responsibility rests almost squarely on the shoulders of Bynes, who succeeds with a magnetic screen personality. It's easy to see why she has been a mainstay the past 10 years on cable's Nickelodeon network -- she has a wonderful sense of timing, and a great handle on physical comedy, to boot. Plus, she gets to show a tender side with the movie, which is sure to give her fans a welcome surprise.
There are no doubt shots on the way from film snobs out there who'll be quick to complain that, like "Bringing Down the House," "What a Girl Wants" has an all-too-familiar narrative and stereotypical characters. And, apart from any snide descriptions they'll use to criticize the movie, they're probably right.
But that's not going to matter to the film's intended audience. What they'll get is a sweet and funny coming-of-age tale that teaches some important lessons about being yourself -- and kids, especially teens, can never get enough of that.
DVD Features: Commentary by writers Jenny Bicks and Elizabeth Chandler; deleted scenes; Fashion Etiquette 101 featurette -- a light-hearted look at what it takes to be the belle of the ball; "What's a Girl To Wear?" game, which is a mix-and-match interactive challenge; special "Easter Egg" hidden content and more.
Martin plays Peter Sanderson, a divorced, workaholic attorney who still pines for the affection of his ex-wife (Jean Smart), yet is losing hope when she takes another suitor. Turning to the Internet, he meets what he thinks is his match in Lawyer-Girl, an online user who leads him to believe she's an Ivy League attorney.
When it comes to meeting his match face to face, Peter finds that the "Lawyer-Girl's" name is Charlene (Latifah), and she's got a legal background, alright: she's a convicted prisoner who needs an attorney to help her clear her name - and she cajoles her way into moving in with Peter and his two kids (Kimberly J. Brown and Angus T. Jones) until she can get it done.
The problem is, Charlene's hip-hopping ways are the complete opposite of Peter's uptight, straight-laced lifestyle: and that's a huge problem when it comes to his plans to woo a billion-dollar client (Joan Plowright) to his firm, and hopes of reuniting with his ex-wife.
"Bringing Down the House" is hardly original -- in fact, its story screams "The Odd Couple" -- but the dialogue is so hilarious, and the acting is so impeccable that it hardly matters. Latifah is lovable as Charlene, and Martin is in his element as the out-of-touch attorney -- as his slow assimilation to her hip-hop slang provides the film with its funniest moments.
Equally as funny is Eugene Levy, who plays a fellow attorney in Peter's firm that has a serious thing for Charlene, and Missi Pyle ("Galaxy Quest") who stars in a pivotal role as Peter's pain-in-the-butt ex-sister-in-law. Television veteran Betty White (interview) grabs some laughs, too, in a small, but hilarious role as Peter's bigoted neighbor.
It's quite likely that viewers will argue that "Bringing Down the House" relies on racial stereotypes for its humor, which in some respects is true. Sure, Peter is white and Charlene is black, and there are no doubt cultural differences between the two.
But the beauty of "Bringing Down the House" is that at the heart of the matter, we discover that Peter and Charlene are essentially the same. In the end, "Bringing Down the House" is far from being a mindless comedy.
DVD Features: Commentary with director Adam Shankman, Writer Jason Filardi and Latifah; deleted Scenes; a gag reel; a behind-the-scenes featurettes; "The Godfather of Hop" featurettes; Latifah music video "Better Than the Rest" and more.
'What A Girl Wants' (PG) Sure, its clash of cultures storyline doesn't make "What a Girl Wants" the most original film to come down the pike, but that's hardly reason to write off an otherwise charming movie that's sure to give fans of Nickelodeon television star Amanda Bynes everything they want.
Bynes stars as Daphne Reynolds, a free-spirited American teen who has celebrated each of 17 birthdays in heartbreak. She has her loving, yet unconventional mother, Libby (Kelly Preston), always by her side, but Daphne's father is never there to accompany her -- so she feels incomplete.
At least Daphne knows who he is -- Lord Henry Dashwood (Colin Firth), a wealthy British aristocrat who lives in London. He and Libby are an ocean apart thanks to the deception of Henry's snobbish family, who didn't feel she was suitable for their high-class society.
So when Daphne impulsively hops a flight to London in order to find her father, there are several surprises in store. First of all, Henry, now a politician facing a crucial election, didn't know he had a daughter, and second, that daughter -- who's just like her mother -- causes an uproar with the British aristocracy. But unlike mom, will Libby change to please her pompous patriarchy?
"What a Girl Wants" has a "Princess Diaries" fish-out-water sort of feel to it, where a reluctant heir is suddenly thrust into a world opposite of hers. It's a tried and true comedy formula, and the success of that formula usually relies on whether its actors can deliver the goods or not.
With "What a Girl Wants," the responsibility rests almost squarely on the shoulders of Bynes, who succeeds with a magnetic screen personality. It's easy to see why she has been a mainstay the past 10 years on cable's Nickelodeon network -- she has a wonderful sense of timing, and a great handle on physical comedy, to boot. Plus, she gets to show a tender side with the movie, which is sure to give her fans a welcome surprise.
There are no doubt shots on the way from film snobs out there who'll be quick to complain that, like "Bringing Down the House," "What a Girl Wants" has an all-too-familiar narrative and stereotypical characters. And, apart from any snide descriptions they'll use to criticize the movie, they're probably right.
But that's not going to matter to the film's intended audience. What they'll get is a sweet and funny coming-of-age tale that teaches some important lessons about being yourself -- and kids, especially teens, can never get enough of that.
DVD Features: Commentary by writers Jenny Bicks and Elizabeth Chandler; deleted scenes; Fashion Etiquette 101 featurette -- a light-hearted look at what it takes to be the belle of the ball; "What's a Girl To Wear?" game, which is a mix-and-match interactive challenge; special "Easter Egg" hidden content and more. Copyright 2003 by Lifewhile.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
