Mad Money (2008)

Three female employees of the Federal Reserve plot to steal money that is about to be destroyed.

Director:

Callie Khouri

Writers:

Glenn Gers (screenplay), John Mister (earlier screenplay)

Stars:

Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Diane Keaton	...	Bridget Cardigan
Ted Danson	...	Don Cardigan
Katie Holmes	...	Jackie Truman
Adam Rothenberg	...	Bob Truman
Queen Latifah	...	Nina Brewster
Peyton 'Alex' Smith	...	Older Dante (as Peyton Smith)
Charlie Caldwell	...	Cop #1
Richard F Law	...	Cop #2 (as Richard Law)
Meagen Fay	...	Mindy Arbogast
Christopher McDonald	...	Bryce Arbogast (as Chris McDonald)
Denise Lee	...	Counselor
Sylvia Castro Galan	...	Selina
Morgana Shaw	...	Molly
Roger Cross	...	Barry
Stephen Root	...	Glover

Storyline

Don and Bridget Cardigan's upper middle class lifestyle is threatened since Don, who has been out of work for a year, seems to have given up looking for a job, and housewife Bridget has been out of the workforce for most of her life. They are close to $300,000 in debt. Finding out this information, Bridget comes to the conclusion that she needs to get a job - any job - that at least provides them with some benefits. She reluctantly takes a job as a janitor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Almost immediately, Bridget is enthralled with all the old worn out money that is being shredded. She comes up with a plan to get her old lifestyle back by stealing much of that money, which she believes is an easy job since the locks used on the money carts are standard equipment and as she notices that no one ever checks the garbage as she goes about her work. Her plan needs the cooperation of one person who works the shredder and one person who pushes the carts of money. The two people ...

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Plot Keywords:

woman wears eyeglasses | money | bank | shredder | federal reserve bank | 

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Taglines:

Taking the money was easy. Getting away with it would be harder than they ever imagined.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language, and brief drug references

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stock ticker at the bottom of the screen during "Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer" mentions Stark Industries, the fictional company owned by Tony Stark in Iron Man (2008). Iron Man was released four-and-a-half months after Mad Money and also features a segment from "Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer".

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Goofs

In Federal Reserve cash processing facilities, multiple denominations of money are never allowed to mingle.

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Quotes

Bridget Cardigan: We can't turn ourselves in, if we do, Nina loses her kids.

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Crazy Credits

Designated Stand-in Jonnee Winkler

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Kennedys Special (2011)

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Soundtracks

Money (That's What I Want)
Written by Berry Gordy (as Berry Gordy, Jr.) and Janie Bradford
Performed by Barrett Strong
Courtesy of Motown Records
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Honey, Mad Money is funny and, while not perfect, is quite entertaining, too

Bridget (Diane Keaton) is a gracious matron with a lovely home. Yet, her world turns upside-down when her husband (Ted Danson) loses his job. Suddenly, bills are piling up and there is no solution in sight. Needing to maintain her lifestyle, Bridget takes a job as a custodial worker for the local branch of the federal mint. Now, she has the health care coverage she needs and the means to pay her creditors. But, she wants more, especially considering the menial tasks she is asked to perform and the smug attitude of the mint's bossman. Being a tough and smart cookie, Bridget hatches an elaborate plot to help herself to some of the worn-out bills that are headed for the shredder. But, in order for the scheme to work, she needs the aid of Nina (Queen Latifah), who operates one of the shredders, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), whose task it is to transport the cart of paper money to and fro. They agree, after some initial reluctance, to become Bridget's partners in crime, for Nina wants to send her two little boys to a fine school and Jackie has a need for some excitement. But, will they really be able to pull one over on the Feds? This is really a fairly funny movie, with a great plot and a nice cast. Keaton, especially, is fabulous as the conniving, high maintenance housewife and the Queen is equally wonderful as a single mother with big dreams. Danson, Christopher McDonald and the lesser players are fine, too. Only Holmes strikes a flat note, as her Jackie is rather forgettable. Since Katie has shown she is a fine actress (see Pieces of April or Abandon), one can only conclude that the director failed her miserably. Then, too, she sports an awful hair style and terrible costumes throughout the film as well. This is most odd, for Keaton and Latifah look great. Although the sets are not noteworthy, they are certainly adequate, as is the look of the film. If you have heard that this film is a bomb, don't believe it. While it may not be a masterpiece, it definitely has its funny moments and zany charm, more than enough, in fact, to make it a worthwhile watch.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 January 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mad Money

Filming Locations:

Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,736,452, 20 January 2008

Gross USA:

$20,668,843

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,412,163

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big City Pictures, Granada Entertainment, Grand Army Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1