Bringing Down the House (2003)

Director:

Adam Shankman

Writer (WGA):

Jason Filardi (written by)

Release Date:

7 March 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Everything he needed to know about life, she learned in prison.

Plot:

When a lonely guy meets a woman on the Internet who happens to be in prison, she breaks out to be with him, and proceeds to wreak havoc on his middle-class life.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Divorce | Ex Wife | Catfight | Dating Service

Awards:

3 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Peter Sanderson
Queen Latifah	...	Charlene Morton
Eugene Levy	...	Howie Rottman
Joan Plowright	...	Virginia Arness
Jean Smart	...	Kate Sanderson
Kimberly J. Brown	...	Sarah Sanderson
Angus T. Jones	...	Georgey Sanderson
Missi Pyle	...	Ashley
Michael Rosenbaum	...	Todd Gendler
Betty White	...	Mrs. Kline
Steve Harris	...	Widow
Jim Haynie	...	Ed Tobias
Aengus James	...	Mike
Jernard Burks	...	Widow's Bodyguard
Bronzell Miller	...	Widow's Bodyguard
Matt Lutz	...	Aaron
Randy Oglesby	...	FBI Agent
Jesse Corti	...	Italian FBI Agent
Smalls	...	Doorman
Victor Webster	...	Glen
Teddy Lane Jr.	...	Big Man
Vincent Ward	...	Big Man (as Vincent M. Ward)
Michael Ensign	...	Daniel Barnes
Tracey Cherelle Jones	...	Sofia
Josh Waters	...	College Party Boy
Anne Fletcher	...	Saleslady
John Prosky	...	Male Commentator
Alonzo Bodden	...	Bear
Seth Howard	...	Caddy
Diana Carreno	...	Hip Hopper
Tim Stevenson	...	Hip Hopper
Eddie Garcia	...	Hip Hopper
Sundy Carter	...	Flygirl
Anne Bellamy	...	Hostess
Robin Michelle McClamb	...	Bartender
Walter Addison	...	Mr. Kline
Gina Morelli	...	Rosa
Seth Altschull	...	Waiter
Deezer D	...	Heavy Guy
Kelly Price	...	Nightclub Singer
Candace Jackson	...	Backup Singer
Erika Nuri	...	Backup Singer
Faida Amana Brigham	...	Down Low Dancer
Aminah Abdul-Jillil	...	Down Low Dancer
Barry Lee Youngblood	...	Down Low Dancer
Cris Judd	...	Down Low Dancer (as Cristian L. Judd)
Oscar Orosco	...	Down Low Dancer (as Oscar L. Orosoco)
Garland R. Spencer	...	Down Low Dancer
Montrose Hagins	...	Charlene's Neighbor
Laura Grady	...	Hotel Hostess (as Laura Grady Peterson)
Linus the Dog	...	William Shakespeare
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erik Betts	...	House Guest #4 (uncredited)
Christianna Carmine	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
Joseph J. Dawson	...	Paramedic (uncredited)
Whayne Jerome-Clayton	...	Club Goer (uncredited)
Daymond Johnson	...	Partygoer (uncredited)
Lucas Meyers	...	Valet (uncredited)
Michelle Marie White	...	Attorney in Photo (uncredited)

Directed by
Adam Shankman

Writing credits (WGA)
Jason Filardi		(written by)

Produced by
Ashok Amritraj	....	producer
Jane Bartelme	....	executive producer
Cookie Carosella	....	associate producer
David Hoberman	....	producer
Queen Latifah	....	executive producer
Todd Lieberman	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Julio Macat

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg		(as Jerry Greenberg)

Casting by
Victoria Thomas

Production Design by
Linda DeScenna

Art Direction by
James Nedza		(as Jim Nedza)

Set Decoration by
Ric McElvin

Costume Design by
Pamela Withers		(as Pamela Withers-Chilton)

Makeup Department
Felicity Bowring	....	key makeup artist
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist: Mr. Martin
Mary Guerrero	....	assistant hair stylist
Lynda Gurasich	....	key hair stylist
Maggie Hayes-Jackson	....	hair stylist: second unit (as Maggie Hayes)
Amy Schmiederer	....	assistant makeup artist
Julie Taylor	....	hair stylist: Queen Latifah
Lisa Layman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Daryl Kass	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lisa J. Bloch	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Lisa Bloch-Tobey)
Lisa J. Bloch	....	second assistant director (as Lisa Bloch-Tobey)
Courtney Franklin	....	dga trainee (as Courtney M. Franklin)
Conte Matal	....	second assistant director: helicopter unit
John Medlen	....	second unit director
Bradley Morris	....	second second assistant director: second unit
John Pontrelli	....	second second assistant director
Hillary Schwartz	....	second assistant director: second unit
Daniel Silverberg	....	first assistant director
Daniel Silverberg	....	first assistant director: helicopter unit

Art Department
Adam Austin	....	assistant props
Mark Boucher	....	swing gang
Nancy Deren	....	set designer
Dennis DeWaay	....	construction coordinator (as Dennis Dewaay)
Alan Easley	....	set designer
Steven E. Fegley	....	construction foreman (as Steve Fegley)
Ellen Freund	....	property master
Nancy Gilmore	....	leadman
Richard Girod Jr.	....	stand-by painter
William Livingston	....	construction foreman
Ray Lopez	....	plaster foreman (as Ray T. Lopez)
John McElroy	....	on-set dresser
Anthony Paronelli	....	paint foreman (as Tony Paronelli)
Roxanne Reaver	....	construction accountant
Rich Romig	....	set designer
David Saltzman	....	assistant property master
Randy Severino	....	swing gang
Mitch Sutton	....	art department coordinator
Earl Thielen	....	props: second unit
Mark Tuttle	....	swing gang
Kirk Essiambre	....	set dresser (uncredited)
David Loitz	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Robert G. Newhouse	....	on-set greensman (uncredited)
Marc Tantin	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert Carr	....	sound re-recordist (as Bob Carr)
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Julie Feiner	....	dialogue editor (as Julie Finer)
Donald Flick	....	sound editor
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Shawn Ian Kerkhoff	....	assistant sound editor (as Shawn Kerkhoff)
Cliff Latimer	....	adr supervisor
Cliff Latimer	....	dialogue supervisor
Alan E. Lorimer	....	sound effects coordinator
Laura Macias	....	foley artist
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer
Harrison D. Marsh	....	boom operator
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor (as Jim Matheny)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Kevin E. Patterson	....	utility sound (as Kevin Patterson)
Terry Rodman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Mary Ruth Smith	....	sound editor (as Mary R. Smith)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
David A. Whittaker	....	supervising sound editor (as David Whittaker)
Amy Hammer	....	mix facility coordinator (uncredited)
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Erin Michael Rettig	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
Clint Smith	....	post sound intern (uncredited)

Special Effects by
James Fredburg	....	special effects supervisor: second unit (as Jim Fredberg)
Alan E. Lorimer	....	special effects coordinator
James Lorimer	....	special effects technician: second unit
Floyd Van Wey	....	special effects technician: second unit (as F. Van Way)

Visual Effects by
Michael Curtis	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Elle Alexander	....	stunts
Steve Baruch	....	stunts
Barbara Bernhardt	....	stunts
Erik Betts	....	stunts
Jwaundace Candece	....	stunts
Chris Daniels	....	stunts
Mary Fallick	....	stunts
Tom Harper	....	stunts
David Hugghins	....	stunts
Robert Jauregui	....	stunts (as Bob Jauregui)
Ben Jensen	....	stunts
Ron McCord	....	stunts
John Medlen	....	stunt coordinator
David Morizot	....	stunts (as David M. Morizot)
Michael Roberts	....	stunts
Von L. Roddy	....	stunts (as Von Roddy)
Larnell Stovall	....	stunts
C.C. Taylor	....	stunts
Jennifer Van Shay	....	stunts (as Jennifer Van Shea)
William Washington	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James Alden	....	rigging grip
Michael Anderson	....	key grip
Audie Aragon	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Michael Arvanitis	....	rigging electrician: second unit (as Michael Arvanitas)
Connie Boylan	....	on-camera music contractor
Tom Cantrell	....	rigging electrician: second unit (as T. Contrell)
David Chameides	....	Steadicam operator: "b" camera
Trey Clinesmith	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
David E. Diano	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as David Diano)
Malcolm Doran II	....	second company grip
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer (as S. Young Emerson)
Rod Farley	....	grip
John Fine	....	electrician (as Johnny Fine)
Lonnie S. Gatlin	....	best boy electric (as Lonnie Gatlin)
Adam Glick	....	electrician: second unit
Steve Graves	....	grip
Michael Hildebranch	....	camera technician: helicopter
Douglas S. Holgate	....	camera operator: helicopter unit (as Doug Holgate)
Jason Jensen	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Johnny E. Jensen	....	director of photography: helicopter unit (as Johnny Jensen)
Johnny E. Jensen	....	director of photography: second unit (as Johnny Jensen)
Ralph Johnson	....	rigging best boy
Ralph Johnson	....	rigging best boy: second unit
William T. Jones	....	rigging grip
Eugene B. Kerry	....	grip (as Gene Kerry)
Craig Kohlhoff	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Bob E. Krattiger	....	gaffer (as Robert Krattiger)
James E. Krattiger	....	electrician (as Jim Krattiger)
Glen Magers	....	electrician
Tim Marshall	....	rigging gaffer
Tim Marshall	....	rigging gaffer: second unit
Wayne Marshall	....	electrician: second unit
Wayne Marshall	....	rigging electrician
Gary Mayer	....	electrician: second unit
Rob Morey	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Paul Murphey	....	video assist operator
Don Nesmith	....	electrician (as Donald Nesmith)
Walter Nichols	....	gaffer: second unit
Andrew Parke	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Bruce Rake	....	rigging electrician: second unit
Christopher Reynolds	....	grip
David Richert	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kenny Schneider	....	electrician (as Kenneth Schneider)
Don Selsor	....	rigging key grip
Jason Selsor	....	rigging grip
Andy Shuttleworth	....	Steadicam operator: "b" camera
Bill Slemmons	....	grip (as Bill Blemmons)
Ralph Stiers	....	electrician: second unit
Ralph Stiers	....	rigging electrician
Michael Strong	....	best boy rigging grip (as Mike Strong)
Michael Strong	....	rigging grip: second unit (as Mike Strong)
Renee Treyball	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Reneé Treyball)
Melvin 'Butch' Von Bulow	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (as Butch Von Bulow)
Mark Edwards	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
John Fine	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Lee Rose	....	lighting designer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Abellera	....	casting assistant
Kim Coleman	....	casting associate
Terri Douglas	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Virginia Burton	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer Dozier	....	costumer
Jill Korengold	....	set costumer
Tom Macdonald	....	costumer: Mr. Martin (as Tom MacDonald)
Julie Shack	....	costume production assistant
Eric Van Wagoner	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Patrick J. Barry	....	apprentice editor
Glenn Cocco	....	first assistant editor: avid
Dan Miller	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Don Thompson	....	second assistant editor
Paul Springer	....	post-production coordinator: Dolby Laboratories Inc. (uncredited)

Music Department
Tim Boot	....	supervising music mixer (as Timothy Boot)
Gustavo Borner	....	score mixer
Gustavo Borner	....	score recordist
Frank Capp	....	orchestra contractor
Ruy Folguera	....	music programmer
Darrell Hall	....	music editor
Ira Hearshen	....	orchestrator (as Ira Heashen)
Geoff Levin	....	music programmer
Michael McQuarn	....	music supervisor
Seth Rappaport	....	music coordinator
John E. Rhone	....	music coordinator (as John Rhone)
Booker White	....	music preparation
Reggie Wilson	....	orchestra contractor
Bruce Chianese	....	music programmer (uncredited)
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Mike Buenfil	....	transportation captain
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Griff Ruggles	....	transportation coordinator
Robbie Stinton	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Ellen Adolph	....	production accountant
Molly Allen	....	location manager
Julie Asbury	....	production assistant
Stacy Basil	....	animal wrangler (as Stacy M. Basil)
LaWanda Black	....	assistant: Queen Latifah (as Lawanda 'LB' Black)
Matthew Boeka	....	production assistant (as Matt Boeka)
Briana Burke	....	assistant location manager
Jamale Case	....	set medic: second unit
Ryan Chavez	....	production assistant
John Chisolm	....	studio teacher
Shakim Compere	....	dialogue consultant
Steve Curtiss	....	production assistant
Teena Deocales	....	assistant: Mr. Bartelme
Solo Douglas	....	production assistant
Erin Engman	....	assistant production coordinator
Anne Fletcher	....	choreographer
Tony Fonseca	....	production assistant
Darryl French	....	dialogue consultant (as Latee French)
Jenny Fumarolo	....	production secretary
Eddie Garcia	....	additional choreographer
Marc A. Hammer	....	production coordinator
Cris Judd	....	additional choreographer
Shelley Kirkwood	....	unit publicist (as Shelly Kirkwood)
Gary Levy	....	first assistant accountant
Heidi Lewis	....	accounting assistant (as Heidi G. Lewis)
Richard Lyons	....	theatrical consultant: Queen Latifah
Tracy Mallozzi	....	assistant: Mr. Martin (as Tracy Mallozi)
Marlene Marks	....	payroll accountant
Peter McKernan	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Jr.)
Peter McKernan Sr.	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Sr.)
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor: second unit (as Lyn McKissick)
Kim Meade	....	assistant: Mr. Hoberman
Lucas Meyers	....	assistant: Mr. Shankman
Andrea Milford	....	assistant: Mr. Lieberman
Joe Morganella	....	production assistant
Justin Nelson	....	assistant: Mr. Amritraj
Sharron Reynolds	....	script supervisor (as Sharron Reynolds-Enriquez)
Aaron Roberts	....	production assistant
Trevett Robertson	....	production assistant (as Iain Robertson)
Kei Rowan-Young	....	assistant location manager
Angie Ryan	....	second assistant accountant
Scott Sellers	....	post-production accountant
John Shaughnessy	....	assistant location manager
Dana Wagner	....	production assistant
Lois Walker	....	production coordinator
Ilene Waterstone	....	assistant: Mr. Martin
Jennifer Weiland	....	production assistant
Rick Whitfield	....	video computer coordinator
Aaron Wolf	....	production assistant
John 'Magic' Wright	....	craft service
Naomi Yospe	....	production secretary
John Zinskey	....	craft service: second unit
Allan Bragg	....	stand-in: Steve Martin (uncredited)
Mike Crotty	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Heather I. Denton	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)
Ben Dietz	....	production assistant to producers (uncredited)
Baron Jay	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Christian Lavery	....	body double (uncredited)
Ryan Moorman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michalla Petersen	....	voice-over artist (uncredited)
Canyon Prince	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Julia M. Sauder	....	production assistant: re-shoot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures
• Hyde Park Films

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
• Buena Vista International Finland (2003) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2003) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Talpa (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Buena Vista Imaging  opticals
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutters
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• City and County of Los Angeles  thanks (as City and County of Los Angeles, CA)
• Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC)  thanks
• Hat Trick Catering  catering
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  score recording (as The Newman Scoring Stage)
• Otto Nemenz International  Arriflex 535 cameras provided by (as Otto Nemenz)
• Picture Mill, The  titles (as The Picture Mill)
• RPM Group  promotion and marketing
• Reel Security  production security
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Signet Sound Studio  score mixed at (as Signet Sound Studios)
• Smith & Webster-Davis Casting  extras casting
• TM Equipment Rentals  grip and lighting equipment (as TM Equipment Rentals Inc.)
• Walt Disney Music Library, The  music preparation (as Walt Disney Music Library)
• Weddington Productions  sound editorial facilities
• Wilshire Stages, The  re-recording stage

Also Known As:

In the Houze (USA) (working title)
JailBabes.com (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual humor and drug material.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | UK:12 (video rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | Netherlands:MG6 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39572)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

The Russian title for the film translates as "House Upside Down".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the beginning of the movie, when Peter gets the instant message at work and Howie goes to look at the laptop, the Apple logo is not lit up as it would be when the laptop's power is on.

Quotes:

Peter Sanderson: I guess I'll just see you in my next life.
[laughs crazily]
Peter Sanderson: Bye!
[drives away]
Charlene Morton: Ha-ha, I'll see you when you get home.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Reel Paradise (2005)

Soundtrack:

I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Babe

the stars steal the show

`Bringing Down the House' is the latest variation on that old comic chestnut in which a wisecracking, free-spirit type from `the lower social orders' invades the life of an uptight stuffed-shirt type - not only getting him to loosen up that collar and shed his inhibitions but also showing him a thing or two about what really matters in life. This is, basically, a primer for a Culture Clash Comedy 101 course, with a couple of veteran comic professors on hand to teach us all how it's done.

In this case, Steve Martin plays the uptight lawyer who is so obsessed with his career that he has already lost his wife over the issue and appears on the road to alienating his children as well. When Peter meets what he believes is a potential love interest in an internet chat room, he figures his life just might be turning around for the better. Peter is all set for a romantic evening – champagne, dim lights, `A Man and a Woman' playing softly in the background – when, at his door, who should appear but that Big Bad Mama, Queen Latifah, as Charlene Morton, an ex-convict who wants Peter to help her expunge from her record the crime she swears she did not commit. Peter is at first reluctant to accept this strange woman into his house and life, but Charlene is nothing if not persistent and she manages to horn her way in anyway.

The Jason Filardi screenplay pretty much plays it all by rote. We know, despite their tremendous differences in culture, background and personality, that these two comic titans will end up as great pals by the story's end. Nothing about `Bringing Down the House' surprises us, yet there is a certain amount of comfort to be derived from familiarity and predictability. It's an old formula but one that works fairly well here, thanks, primarily, to the assured, high-energy performances of Martin and Latifah in the starring roles. These two comic masters achieve a real chemistry working together, enough to compensate for the broad stereotyping that permeates the film. Filardi does achieve some moments of genuine hilarity by mixing slapstick and social satire in roughly equal measure. The satire isn't on a very high level of sophistication but it is good enough for a mass audience venture such as this one.

Director Adam Shankman is also blessed with a strong supporting cast that includes Eugene Levy as a nerdish - but `freaky' - business associate obsessed with wild black women like Charlene; Joan Plowright as a snooty, eccentric matron whose account Peter is determined to win for his firm; and Bette White as Peter's bigoted next door neighbor who is eyeing askance all the strange goings-on at the lawyer's house.

`Bringing Down the House' is at its best when it simply lets itself go, forgets about the plot, and allows its performers to dazzle us with their sheer likeability, i.e., Martin and Latifah dancing up a storm at an L.A. bistro, Martin breaking out into a spontaneous break dance routine while infiltrating an all-black nightclub. It is at its worst in the final scenes when the heavy-handed plot mechanics threaten to torpedo the whole project. Luckily, we have Martin and Latifah to help keep the thing afloat. The vehicle itself may creak at times, but the stars never do.