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Rated: PG-13
Starring: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Roger R. Cross, Adam Rothenberg
Directed by: Callie Khouri
There are a lot of laughs to be had from this well
contrived, but lengthy, heist film that"s loaded with talent. If it weren"t for the PG-13 rating, I"d
recommend it for the whole family. If
you haven"t had your fill of situation comedies, you may want to add Mad
Money to your list.
The plot of Mad Money has a simple premise: how to
steal money that isn’t going to be money anymore since it’s going to the
government shredder because it’s worn out.
After all, it’s still legal tender.
Of course, getting that money would take a brilliant idea and a bank that
doesn’t have a clue. This particular
bank where Bridget (Keaton) gets a job as a cleaning lady due to an economic
downturn from her well-to-do life, has all the ear markings of the perfect
crime.
Finding two other cohorts in
crime doesn’t take much either. Just
pick out Jackie (Holmes), the ditsy money cart hauler who has a lot of unpaid
bills, and money shredder worker Nina (Latifah), who wants to provide a better
education for her two children. The
three have a foolproof scheme involving timing, waste control and a key. The
scheme takes a turn for the worse, however, when an unexpected arm of the law
steps in.
Latifah
gives her best shot in this comedy, much like her awesome portrayal of an
ex-con moving in on a wealthy divorce in Bringing Down the House. Here she bounces her comedic talent off
another great actor, Diane Keaton. While
Keaton gives one of her fine comical performances as the conniving mastermind
in the thieving operation, it’s Holmes that brings the ‘funky’ wackiness to the
film. What makes the film good is the
amusing trio’s ability to bond with fine comedic chemistry. They are fun to watch, especially when they
get greedy.
The only
downside comes with the direction of the film by Khouri. She tries to put too much into the film and
so it becomes a bit too repetitious, leaving little to the imagination and a predictable ending.
The film plays best to High School and
College Students that just want some mindless entertainment after exams, and
adults looking for some laughs following dinner.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A fun film with a lot of laughs for devoted
lovers of situation comedy.
This Reviewer's Rating:   3 / 5
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