"Bringing Down the House" is the sort of comedy that may provoke critical upheaval. Its hilarious scenarios are created by playing on classic black/white stereotypes and exaggerated cultural myths.
Although one would admit this film's wild plot twists and happily-ever-after ending are foreseeable, if one is looking for light-hearted comedy (without considering political correctness) one is certain to enjoy laugh after laugh.
Casting rap diva Queen Latifah ("Chicago") and Steve Martin (host of this year's Academy Awards) in costarring roles was a surprising choice, but this seemingly "odd couple" has amazing chemistry. Latifah and Martin kept the audience roaring with laughter from the beginning.
Charlene (Queen Latifah), a convicted felon, hoodwinks her way into the life of Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin), a humdrum tax attorney with a suburban home, by convincing him via an Internet chat room that she was a thin, blond, white woman.
Latifah steals the show, as well as the hearts of Sanderson's unsuspecting family. She starts off imposing on them with fast-talking wit and heroism, but eventually endears herself to them. At first, Sanderson is irritated to have his life invaded, as Charlene traps him by making loud scenes at his office, as well as in his "picture perfect" neighborhood.
Afraid of tainting both his professional and private reputation, Sanderson allows Charlene to stay in his home. Plus, he agrees to work toward expunging her criminal charges and proving her innocence.
Over the course of the film, Charlene not only manages to weasel her way into a suburban white home, but also change the family's misconceptions of black people. She teaches Sanderson's son to read, saves his daughter from nearly being raped, helps Sanderson loosen up, win back his ex-wife and convinces him to leave his uptight law-firm.
One would imagine that this cheesy scheme of events would have the audience bored and sorry they came to the film, yet "Bringing Down The House" is cleverly put together. The above scenes are interwoven with constant comedic run-ins and chance fight scenes, where Charlene always managed to single-handedly beat up the "bad guys".
This film is so much more than the classic, no-point comedy, because of its implicit political innuendos and attacks on classic stereotypes.
Although the movie seems to portray blacks as ignorant, uneducated, poor, and criminal-minded, its "All in the Family" approach shows the whites that harbor these stereotypes as being the ignorant ones. Charlene constantly defies their false impressions, succeeding at each task she attempts.
At first, one wonders why Latifah, who not only stars in but executive produces this film, would be involved in a project that depicts blacks in such a negative light. The answer is simple: The film cunningly tied these controversial ideologies into a storyline that does not exclude certain audiences.
Along with her and Martin's performances, the final ingredient in this well-mixed recipe is a common denominator all audiences can appreciate: Humor.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
