Bringing Down the House (2003)

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

Director:

Adam Shankman

Writer:

Jason Filardi

Stars:

Steve Martin, Queen Latifah, Eugene Levy

4 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Peter Sanderson is a divorced, straight-laced, uptight attorney who still loves his ex-wife and can't figure out what he did wrong to make her leave him. However, Peter's trying to move on, and he's smitten with a brainy, bombshell barrister he's been chatting with online. However, when she comes to his house for their first face-to-face, she isn't refined, isn't Ivy League, and isn't even a lawyer. Instead, it's Charlene, a prison escapee who's proclaiming her innocence and wants Peter to help her clear her name. But Peter wants nothing to do with her, prompting the loud and shocking Charlene to turn Peter's perfectly ordered life upside down, jeopardizing his effort to get back with his wife and won a billion dollar client.

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Plot Keywords:

william shakespeare character | lawyer | divorce | villain arrested | spanking | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

JailBabes.com

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$33,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,101,026, 9 March 2003, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$132,716,677

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$164,729,679

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Hyde Park Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Steve Martin and Eugene Levy worked together in Father of the Bride 2 (1995). They later worked together again in Cheaper by the Dozen (2005).

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Goofs

When Peter takes Mrs. Arness, her dog William, and golf caddy out for a game of golf, there seems to be an extra player in their foursome. In the golf cart, sitting just behind the four, is a woman wearing a hat, taking off her socks. The woman is dressed exactly like Mrs. Arness. The woman then disappears entirely after Mrs. Arness takes a swing (she is Mrs. Arness' stunt double).

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Quotes

Mrs. Kline: We have to brush your hair differently. You look like a fag.

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Crazy Credits

Thanks to residents of McCadden Place.

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Connections

References Mandingo (1975)

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Soundtracks

Billy Jean Is MIA
Written by Shane West
Performed by Jonny Was

User Reviews

What a hoot! Steve Martin at his wild and crazy best!

I loved it. Hit my funny bone in a BIG way. The scene on the couch was Steve Martin as I remember him at his wild and crazy (SNL) best! There are sooooo many good lines! How could you have found a better, laughable, racist than Betty White? And Eugene Levy attracted to the "dark side"...... I laugh until I hurt every time I watch it. Remember, the humor is so tongue in cheek, you can't take it seriously. Jean Smart has always been one of my favorites, but lacks a little pizzaz in this one--she's the only one I was disappointed in. Hello, you coco goddess! I especially like the banter between Charlene and the ex-sister-in-law. Ex-sister-in-law reminds me of a WKRP Jennifer, gone bad! Mark it down as one of my favorites!