Comedic acting saves 'House' from cliché

"Bringing Down the House" is the typical fish-out-of-water story about two characters who try to exist outside their elements.\nLonely in love after his divorce, Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) takes to the internet and finds Charlene (Queen Latifah). But the picture that is sent to Peter features a white female lawyer in the foreground and Charlene getting arrested is in the background. Thus the appearance of Charlene upon their first meeting takes Peter by surprise. Charlene refuses to leave Peter's life until he expunges her record because she claims to be wrongfully convicted. Even though he works for a law firm with very conservative clients, he agrees to take her case. Along the way she teaches him how to win back his wife, connect with his kids and get his life sorted out in general. \nNow when I say very conservative it's almost over the top when the incredibly wealthy client Mrs. Arnez begins singing slave songs to Charlene (who is pretending to be the housekeeper) about whether or not "master will sell me today." Basically the movie turns into a competition between Martin and Eugene Levy on who can sound more out of place speaking in Ebonics. Levy wins this battle, stealing almost every scene. Martin performs well, with his best moments coming when he misuses a word he repeats from Charlene. The real star is Latifah, who shows just because a person doesn't walk, talk or dress a certain way, they still can be just as smart. \nThis movie is aimed at a teen audience, but with Latifah getting an Oscar nomination for Chicago and Martin being the age that he is, the movie drew many viewers who were my parents age and older, but the humor seemed to be lost on that crowd. \n"Bringing Down the House" does have its funny moments, but at the same time it has its typical clichès such as when Latifah leaves Martin and finally realizes how much she did for him. The largest problem is that there are many strings left untied by the end of the movie.