Bringing Down the House (2003)

BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE (2003) (Buena Vista Home Entertainment): Despite receiving mixed reviews, this uneven comedy starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifah provides several laughs.

While the film's deleted scenes are nothing to write home about, the gag reel offers some chuckles as does a short spoof featurette, "The Godfather of Hop," honoring co-star Eugene Levy for his major contributions to hip-hop culture.

The laugh-filled commentary by director Adam Shankman and screenwriter Jason Filardi is self-deprecating and is consistently funnier than the film. Filardi ruefully tells how his original concept, entitled "Jailbait.com," was transformed into Bringing Down the House.

Along the way, the two express their appreciation for the contributions of Levy and co-stars Joan Plowright and Betty White., and exchange anecdotes about various locations and scenes.

A Queen Latifah music video rounds out the disc's special features.

Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at bbloom@journalandcourier.com or at bobbloom@iquest.net. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on movies. Bloom's reviews also appear on the Web at the Rottentomatoes Web site, www.rottentomatoes.com and at the Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom

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