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 | Bar Fight | Party | Gun

Awards:

4 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 M. Ward	...	Big Man
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 Spencer	...	Down Low Dancer (as Garland R. Spencer)
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)
Michelle McGinty	...	Attorney in Photo (uncredited)
Lucas Meyers	...	Valet (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		(director of photography)

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
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
Steve Fegley	....	construction foreman
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)
Rick Mitchell	....	foley editor (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
Elle Alexander	....	stunt double: Missi Pyle (uncredited)

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)
Marq 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
Danny Miller	....	first assistant editor (as Dan Miller)
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
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation
Michael McQuarn	....	music supervisor
Seth Rappaport	....	music coordinator
John E. Rhone	....	music coordinator (as John Rhone)
Booker White	....	music preparation
Reggie Wilson	....	orchestra contractor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
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
Alberto Coto	....	driver (uncredited)

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
Teena Byl	....	assistant: Mr. Bartelme (as Teena Deocales)
Jamale Case	....	set medic: second unit
Ryan Chavez	....	production assistant
John Chisolm	....	studio teacher
Shakim Compere	....	dialogue consultant
Steve Curtiss	....	production assistant
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 Sr.	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Sr.)
Peter McKernan	....	helicopter pilot (as Peter J. McKernan Jr.)
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
Canyon Prince	....	production assistant
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)
Julia M. Sauder	....	production assistant: re-shoot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)
• 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)

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
• Film Art  artwork
• 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:

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:

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) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | UK:12 (video rating) | UK:12A (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

In one of Steve Martin's early comedy skits, he can't pronounce the word "abominable". Mrs. Arness, near the end when she is "stoned", struggles in a similar way to say the word "abominably"

Goofs:

Continuity: After Peter tries to lock Charlean outside of the house when he first meets her, and she is yelling in the yard. When he tackles her and then throws her in the pushes she says "wait, my shoes". After telling the noisy neighbor that everything is fine and as Peter starts walking her back inside from the shot from outside of the house Peter has nothing in his hands. But when they step in side he magically has one of her shoes in his hand and sets it on the table.

Quotes:

Charlene Morton:I get a wedgie just walking in your office.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Shrek Forever After/Survival of the Dead/Holy Rollers (#2.18)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Fourth Floor Ladies Shoes

You got me straight-trippin' Steve!

The arguments and opinions of many a film fan and film critic persist about Steve Martin's current position in Hollywood. Many of his doubters believe he is past it, his films becoming horribly run of the mill, turgid and, ultimately, unfunny. The opinions are jointly contributing to the downfall of a once treasured idol. But some have stood by him, myself included, through the thick black cloud that have rested over the white-haired maestro during the last few years of his illustrious career. And with his latest return to our screens, he's back to prove once and for all, that the wild and crazy guy is here to stay.

The film sees Martin as lawyer Peter Sanderson, recent divorcee and top-dog at his law firm, who now at the age of god-only-knows, decides to ditch his now "whack" existence, and goes 'net surfing for the perfect woman. He apparently strikes gold with a sex, slim blonde laywer he meets in a chat-room. But he is taken by surprise when his date arrives in the sexy, big-boned, brassy form of escaped convict Charlene (Queen Latifah). Entering his life with a strut that would make Oprah blush, Charlene attempts to convince Peter to re-open her case and help her clear her name. That's not before turning his life upside-down, and posing as his kids' nanny tries to help Peter reclaim that what he so dearly yearns for, his family and wife. How, ahem, sweet. And with all the tomfoolery that ensues comes a girl-on-girl "bitch-slapping" session between Charlene and Peter's sister-in-law, a drunken night of dancing and sexual awakening (believe me boys, you've never seen it this way before), and gangster parties louder than Martin's legendary bonnet.

Standing up to its title, "House" really is a treat. Martin, although not in full-on "wild and crazy guy" mode, is on typically top, crowd-pleasing form. His portrayal as the life-searching, middle-aged, toffee-nosed twit is inspired, managing to mix the side-splittingly funny with the touching and poignant to brilliant effect, recalling such affecting form he showed in "Parenthood" and "Bowfinger". Latifah, meanwhile, shows that she has the potential for greatness. her larger-than-life performance is uproarious, bringing charisma and buoyancy to a largely one-dimensional character. She is also quiet the vixen too. The support from Eugene Levy is also first-class. Playing Peter's best mate, who is "straight trippin'" over Charlene, Levy steals practically every scene he appears in, with his dead-pan humour and flawless timing providing the some of the films most painfully funny scenes.

The overall quality of the film is pretty standard stuff. The plot is nothing we haven't seen a thousand times before. The writer and director, while both efficient, don't really add anything fresh and exciting to the buddy comedy genre here. That said, when the films funny, it's an absolute hoot, with the cast stealing the show with marvellous chemistry, and giving us three of best comedic turns you're likely to see all year. Delightful **** (out of FIVE)