How long is bringing down the house

Peter can also talk like a black street dude, sort of. Maybe he learned it from his kids' rap records. The movie's conceit is that Peter keeps throwing Charlene out and she keeps coming back, because she's determined to prove her legal innocence.

She breaks into his house, throws wild parties, embarrasses him at his club, and so on, until a magic night when she gets him drinking and dancing, plants his hands squarely on what Russ Meyer used to rhapsodically refer to as garbanzos, and breaks down his inhibitions.

At this point--what? Wild nuzzling, rapturous caresses, shredded knickers, wild goat cries in the night? Peter takes her case, that's what, while Eugene Levy crawls out of his eyebrows and joins the tag-team. This is all wrong.

A comedy is not allowed to end with the couples incorrectly paired. It goes against the deeply traditional requirements of the audience. Here is a movie that ignores the Model Airplane Rule: First, make sure you have taken all of the pieces out of the box, then line them up in the order in which they will be needed. Todd Lieberman Co-Producer. View All Critic Reviews Aug 01, Though it's slightly emphatic from the amount of racial humor, Bringing Down the House is a charming comedy.

Steve Martin is slick and humorous as only he can do. Combine that with the stylish and pizzazz of one Queen Latifah, along with a sleek amount of supporting actors, you've got yourself quite the cast. Eugene B Super Reviewer.

Apr 30, It lacks a smart script, and funny jokes. Sylvester K Super Reviewer. Jun 24, Bethany M Super Reviewer.

Dec 06, This Movie reminds me a little bit of the Movie House Sitter? Wahida K Super Reviewer. See all Audience reviews. There are no approved quotes yet for this movie. Best Horror Movies. Worst Superhero Movies. Best Netflix Series and Shows. Go back. More trailers. Dexter: New Blood: Season 1. The Shrink Next Door: Season 1. No Score Yet. Yellowstone: Season 4. Blade Runner: Black Lotus: Season 1. Gentefied: Season 2.

The Game: Season 1. Always Jane: Season 1. Condor: Season 2. The woman then disappears entirely after Mrs. Arness takes a swing she is Mrs. Arness' stunt double. Crazy credits Thanks to residents of McCadden Place. User reviews Review. Top review. 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".

Even the director's flat-footed moves can't quell Martin and Latifah, whose combined energy is fearsome and sometimes most amusing. Charles Taylor. What's offensive in Bringing Down the House is the way the jokes have been calculated not to offend.

Mark Caro. Leans on just as many stereotypes as it tweaks. Rita Kempley. The rare film that is capable of offending both Trent Lott and Al Sharpton. User Score. Write a Review. User Reviews. A little racist perhaps but there's no denying that this is a funny film that will please the right audiences, and probably offend everyone else.

Both Steve Martin Queen Latifah are favs actors of mine so I think I was always bound to like this film, and there are so many funny and A little racist perhaps but there's no denying that this is a funny film that will please the right audiences, and probably offend everyone else. Both Steve Martin Queen Latifah are favs actors of mine so I think I was always bound to like this film, and there are so many funny and memorable scenes.

It's also quite a clever storyline with a few twists in there as well as having enough in it to keep you thoroughly entertained.