Queen Latifah and Steve Martin Score Number One Movie

03/10/2003 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Anna Maria Gibson

(3/10/03, 3 p .m. ET) -- The new comedy Bringing Down The House brought down the house at movie theaters all over the country this weekend, coming in at Number One, and generating $31.7 million.

The movie stars Steve Martin (Bowfinger) as divorced tax attorney Peter Sanderson, who crosses paths with Queen Latifah's (Chicago) convict character in an Internet chat room. Once out of jail and in Sanderson's life, Latifah's Charlene Morton gives him and his family lessons in love and learning while shaking up his all-white world.

There are countless incidents involving racist whites and "ghetto" blacks throughout the movie, but Latifah says that movies with over-the-top portrayals like Bringing Down The House address more serious issues. "I think they show how ridiculous it is, and how ridiculous classicism and racism is, and how we can all wind up being pawns to that mentality, to that attitude--especially when not in a position of power or when worried about our position of power," Latifah said. "You know, Steve's character has to tolerate a bunch of crap from his neighbor across the street, who's his boss's sister, but I think that is realistic, you know, and I think a lot of people are in that position."

-- Sofia Fernandez, Los Angeles

For more news at LAUNCH, click here.