Bringing Down the House (film)

Infobox Film
name = Bringing Down the House

---

caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Adam Shankman
producer = Queen Latifah
writer = Jason Filardi
starring = Steve Martin
Queen Latifah
music = Lalo Schifrin
cinematography = Julio Macat
editing = Jerry Greenberg
distributor = Touchstone Pictures
released = March 7, 2003
runtime = 105 min.
country = flagicon|USA
language = English
budget = $35 million
gross = $132,541,238
website = http://movies.yahoo.com/house/
imdb_id = 0305669

"Bringing Down the House" is a 2003 comedy film, written by Jason Filardi and directed by Adam Shankman. The film stars Queen Latifah and Steve Martin.

Setting

The bulk of the film takes place in Pasadena, California, where the Sandersons live. Other locations include Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica as well as the community of Watts, whose famous Watts Towers appear in a scene where Charlene is forced to leave the Sandersons' home.

Plot

Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a workaholic tax attorney corresponding with an online friend known only as "lawyer-girl". On their first blind date, Peter learns that "lawyer-girl" is Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), a wrongfully convicted bank robber claiming her innocence who wants Peter's help in getting the charges dropped. Peter also must deal with Virginia Arness (Joan Plowright), an eccentric billionaire, to bring her business to his firm, as well as competitive colleagues and bosses. His neighbor, Mrs. Kline (Betty White), who happens to be related to one of the senior partners, is a nosy bigot. Peter attempts to juggle these issues as well as reconcile with his estranged wife (Jean Smart) and children (Kimberly J. Brown and Angus T. Jones).

Reception

Box office

On a budget of $35 million the film became a surprise hit. It earned $132.6 million in the U.S. and an international gross of $32 million, bringing its world wide gross to $164.6 million. [ [http://the-numbers.com/movies/2003/HOUZE.php/ Bringing Down the House] , Thenumbers.com] As of July 2008, it is ranked #217 of the All Time Top Grossing USA Motion Pictures. [ [http://www.imdb.com/boxoffice/alltimegross All-Time USA Box office] , IMDB]

Cast

*Steve Martin as Peter Sanderson
*Queen Latifah as Charlene Morton
*Eugene Levy as Howie Rottman
*Joan Plowright as Virginia Arness
*Jean Smart as Kate Sanderson
*Kimberly J. Brown as Sarah Sanderson
*Angus T. Jones as Georgey Sanderson
*Missi Pyle as Ashley
*Michael Rosenbaum as Todd Gendler
*Betty White as Mrs. Kline
*Steve Harris as Widow
*Michael Ensign as Daniel Barnes
*Victor Webster as Glen

Awards & nominations

* In 2004, won a "NAACP Image Award" for "Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture", awarded to Queen Latifah.
* In 2004, nominated for a "MTV Movie Award" for "Best Dance Sequence" - Steve Martin, "Best Female Performance" - Queen Latifah, and "Best Fight" (between Latifah and Pyle).

Behind-the-scenes

*Jason Filardi's original screenplay was entitled "Jailbabe.com". He had Adam Sandler as Peter Sanderson and Angelina Jolie as Ashley in mind when he first wrote it.

*Ashley condescendingly refers to Charlene as "Shaniqua" during one argument, the name of Latifah's character in "Scary Movie 3", released later that year.

*Adam Shankman would work with Steve Martin and Eugene Levy again in the 2005 sequel to "Cheaper By The Dozen", "Cheaper By The Dozen 2".

*On the special features of the DVD, it is mentioned that most of the slang in the movie is made up, since the slang on the street changes so rapidly.

*In 2003, New York Attorney and Screenwriter Marie Flaherty filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Jason Filardi, Queen Latifah and the other producers of "Bringing Down The House" claiming that Boston Attorney George N. Tobia, Jr., who represented both her and Tobia's friend Jason Filardi, gave her screenplay "Amoral Dilemma", about a lawyer that finds a prisoner online, to Jason Filardi, who passed it off as his own. A trial date is pending in Federal Court in New York. [ [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=fcc2f6de-2272-4799-bec6-d87e90b6812c Bringing Down Latifah's "House"] , E! Online] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2902041.stm Lawyer sues over Latifah film] , BBC] [ [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=0747b82c-471b-49b9-b763-3f3ec88408ee Latifah Crowned "Beauty" Queen] , E! Online] [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/28/entertainment/main546623.shtml Queen Latifah Sued Over Hit Movie] , CBS News] [ [http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1470872/20030331/story.jhtml Queen Latifah Hit With $15 Million Lawsuit] , MTV News]

Sequel

Yahoo! Movies announced that a sequel was expected, but Queen Latifah and Steve Martin would not be returning. It was rumoured that the central plot will revolve around Eugene Levy's character, Howie.Fact|date=January 2008 However, Queen Latifah confirmed there will be no sequel: "The powers at Disney just couldn't see themselves writing the checks. Steve and I were too expensive for them." [ [http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2005/03/27/973730.html Queen Latifah talks 'Beauty Shop'] , Jam! CANOE]

References

External links

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