History Film / BringingDowntheHouse

* EngineeredPublicConfession: [[spoiler: Knowing they would probably check him for a wire, Peter brings a boom box into the back room of the club. When Widow tells him to shut it off, he hits record instead of stop.]]

* PocketProtector: [[spoiler: Charlene survives a bullet when it hits the cell phone she's been keeping in her bra.]]

* ScaryBlackMan: Widow (Charlene’s ex). [[spoiler: He framed her for the robbery that got her put in prison.]]

* UnseenPenPal: The film begins with Peter (Creator/SteveMartin), a financial/income tax lawyer sharing emails with a woman named Charlene, who demonstrates a good deal of knowledge of law. When they meet in person, he discovers that Charlene (Music/QueenLatifah) was not the District Attorney in the foreground of the picture he sent her, but the convict that was being escorted out of a squad car in the background.

* CurbStompCushion: While Charlene wins the fight against Ashley as expected, Ashley puts up a decent fight thanks to her tae Bo classes.

* HateSink: Ashley, Peter's conniving, manipulative, gold digging, racist, alcoholic, self-absorbed sister-in-law. She brings absolutely nothing to the movie aside from being a gigantic bitch most of the characters can't stand, and to showcase Charlene's toughness when she kicks her ass in the country club bathroom.

* CatFight: Missi Pyle vs Queen Latifah

* FirstFatherWins

* JiveTurkey: Steve Martin does it.
* MagicalNegro: Charlene swoops into Peter's life and loosens him up.
* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Again, Charlene's effect on Peter.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Queen Latifah pretending to be the servant.
** Beyond that, she's demonstrated that she's just as capable at acting "white bread" and "W.A.S.P."-y as Peter and his associates, but that's not who she is.

** [[spoiler:For Clarification, The cell phone was ((titanium?)) cased, which explains why it worked [a plastic cellphone case would not have stopped the bullet]]]

* RacistGrandma: The next door neighbor (played by Creator/BettyWhite).
* SassyBlackWoman: Guess.

* ScaryBlackMan: Widow (Queen Latifah's ex). [[spoiler: He framed her for the robbery that got her put in prison.]]

Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a workaholic tax attorney corresponding with an online friend known only as "lawyer-girl." On their first blind date, Peter learns that "lawyer-girl" is Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), a plus-sized, wrongfully convicted bank robber claiming her innocence who wants Peter's help in getting the charges dropped. Peter also must deal with Virginia Arness (JoanPlowright), an eccentric billionaire, to bring her business to his firm, as well as competitive colleagues and bosses. His neighbor, Mrs. Kline (Creator/BettyWhite), who happens to be a sister of one of the senior partners, is a nosy bigot. Peter attempts to juggle these issues as well as reconcile with his estranged wife (JeanSmart) and children (KimberlyJBrown and AngusTJones).

* {{Jerkass}}: Ashley, Peter's conniving, manipulative, gold digging, racist, alcoholic, self-absorbed sister-in-law. She may also count as a HateSink since she offers nothing to the movie except being a giant bitch.

* ScaryBlackMan: Widow (Queen Latifah's ex)

* DoubleEntendre: The club that Peter, Charlene, and Howie catch Widdow and his gang at is called "The Down Low." The term "Down Low" is slang in the African-American community for black men who are closeted homosexuals and have to be discreet in their sexual or romantic pursuits of men.

Not to be confused with the book of the same name, which was adapted into the movie [[Film/TwentyOne 21]].

[[quoteright:328:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BringingDownTheHouse_4801.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:328:]]

'''Bringing Down the House''' is a 2003 American comedy film, written by JasonFilardi and directed by AdamShankman. The film stars Creator/SteveMartin and Music/QueenLatifah.

** Mrs. Arness could count too, though she's more ignorant than racist.

* WhyDoYouHateTheDog: Peter as the Middle Aged White Guy and Charlene as the disruption that everyone adores.

On a budget of $35 million the film became a surprise hit. It earned $132.6 million in the United States and an international gross of $32 million, bringing its worldwide gross to $164.6 million. As of March 2009, it is ranked #231 of the All Time Top Grossing USA Motion Pictures.

Bringing Down the House is a 2003 American comedy film, written by JasonFilardi and directed by AdamShankman. The film stars Creator/SteveMartin and Music/QueenLatifah.

Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) is a workaholic tax attorney corresponding with an online friend known only as "lawyer-girl." On their first blind date, Peter learns that "lawyer-girl" is Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), a plus-sized, wrongfully convicted bank robber claiming her innocence who wants Peter's help in getting the charges dropped. Peter also must deal with Virginia Arness (JoanPlowright), an eccentric billionaire, to bring her business to his firm, as well as competitive colleagues and bosses. His neighbor, Mrs. Kline (BettyWhite), who happens to be a sister of one of the senior partners, is a nosy bigot. Peter attempts to juggle these issues as well as reconcile with his estranged wife (JeanSmart) and children (KimberlyJBrown and AngusTJones).

* RacistGrandma: The next door neighbor (played by BettyWhite).

Bringing Down the House is a 2003 American comedy film, written by JasonFilardi and directed by AdamShankman. The film stars SteveMartin and QueenLatifah.

----

* WhereDaWhiteWomenAt: Peter's friend Howie (EugeneLevy) immediately falls for "that cocoa goddess" the second he sees Charlene. Several characters also accuse Peter of having "Jungle Fever" when they see him with her.