DVD review - Bringing down the house (From Barry And District News)

DVD review - Bringing down the house

BLACK cool meets uptight white in the sweetly funny romantic comedy Bringing Down the House.

Ordinary, humdrum tax lawyer Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a busy man. His mobile never stops ringing, and because of this, his wife left him and he hardly has time for his two children.

But even though he still loves his ex-wife and can't figure out why she left or how to get her back, he plans to move on. That's when he strikes up an internet relationship with 'Lawyer-girl', or Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah).

Charlene, who passes herself off as a solicitor on-line, is actually a felon.

But she swears she's innocent and persuades Sanderson to help clear her name.

But that's when it gets interesting. Add a dash of bigotry from Peter's neighbour (who is, incidentally, his boss's sister) and the high-profile client Sanderson is desperate to secure, with a splash of street-wise Latifah and you have an explosive mixture.

The client is Mrs Arness (Joan Plowman) who is dedicated to her French bulldog, William Shakespeare. Queen Latifah is incredibly cool, and the weird but wonderful Eugene Levy, who plays Howie Rottman.

There are some lovely moments, a couple of belly laugh situations and a pretty cute ending. With a 12 certificate, this is an all-round family film.