Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- breezy
- sincere
- lazy sunday
- light date night
What critics said
Critics generally agreed that the charismatic cast and occasional laughs were undermined by a contrived script, bland direction, and outdated racial jokes.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Charlene Morton enters Peter Sanderson's carefully ordered domestic and professional life, compelling him to confront his assumptions and priorities.
Peter expects an online romantic connection with a refined lawyer but meets Charlene, a prison escapee claiming innocence instead.
Peter's law practice, billion-dollar client, family tensions, and home are repeatedly disrupted by Charlene's presence.
Peter's straight-laced professional persona clashes with Charlene's outspoken manner and different social background, while the film frames their conflict through broad racial humor.
Films like Bringing Down the House, and why
The Proposal
shares a fish-out-of-water romantic comedy structure, mismatched leads, domestic disruption, and broad culture-clash humor
Maid in Manhattan
shares workplace romance, family complications, mistaken assumptions, and a polished mainstream comedy tone
What Women Want
shares an opposites-attract comedy built around a guarded professional and an exuberant outsider who destabilizes his routine
The Wedding Planner
shares broad romantic comedy energy, class and social friction, and an uptight protagonist pulled into chaotic circumstances
Movie Details
- Director
- Adam Shankman
- Release Date
- 2003-03-07
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (766)
Cast
- Steve Martin
- Queen Latifah
- Eugene Levy
- Joan Plowright
- Jean Smart
- Kimberly J. Brown
- Angus T. Jones
- Missi Pyle
- Michael Rosenbaum
- Betty White
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, FXNow
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Bringing Down the House about?
- An uptight divorce lawyer’s orderly life erupts into comic chaos when a wrongly accused prison escapee demands his help and challenges his assumptions.
- What is Bringing Down the House like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Bringing Down the House as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Bringing Down the House violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Bringing Down the House as mild.
- What did critics think of Bringing Down the House?
- Critics generally agreed that the charismatic cast and occasional laughs were undermined by a contrived script, bland direction, and outdated racial jokes.
- Which films are like Bringing Down the House?
- Films with a similar feel include The Proposal, Maid in Manhattan, What Women Want, and The Wedding Planner.
- How long is Bringing Down the House?
- Bringing Down the House runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Bringing Down the House?
- In United States, Bringing Down the House streams on fuboTV, FXNow.
