Bringing Down the House

REVIEW
Tax attorney Martin's life is turned upside down by unjustly jailed Latifah, who won't let him rest until he's helped her clear her name. In the process, typical race-comedy hijinks ensue, and Martin learns to get in touch with his inner black man. Not quite the return to form Martin fans may have been hoping for, this is Latifah's House all the way, and she's great, even help making palatable the potentially offensive material. While nothing here even approaches the edginess or laughs of Bulworth, there are plenty of giggles and smiles to go along with the groans, and the hugely appealing wave of energy that is Queen Latifah makes up for the sitcom-pat resolutions and an appalling, cloying score. An underachieving, too-conventional comedy that at least had the smarts to cast the always-welcome Levy in a key supporting role.