Mad Money

Mad Money (Rated PG-13)

Running time: 1 hr 43 mins

Cast:

Diane Keaton
Queen Latifah
Katie Holmes
Ted Danson

Critical consensus:

** out of *****

Matt's Take:

D+

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

*1/2 out of *****

The premise

Three female employees of the Federal Reserve plot to steal money that is about to be destroyed.

MY REVIEW

The Story and Screenplay: Glenn Gers screenplay is your typical heist movie story. You have these characters who are struggling financially, or characters who have kids to support and a crap job that isn't providing enough money. These characters find themselves working at a financial institution and stir up a plot to steal money. They are rather successful. They keep this scheme going for 3+ years, or so we are told in one line, it's never really shown to us that this much time passes. It isn't your typical bank robbery though. These 3 women work in a backshop area of the bank where old, ruined money is destroyed. They see it as since the money is being destroyed anyway, what's the harm in taking it? I'll give it this, it's an interesting setting for a heist movie, and the way they pull it off is kind of cool. It just becomes redundant however as they keep showing us these women stealing money. Then one of the husbands gets involved. Then a boyfriend. Then a security guard love interest. What bothered me is that this plot to steal money from a bank came from one person. Yet these 5 other characters were pursuaded so easily. They almost gave it no thought to commit a serious felony. Whatever, it's only a movie. By the end, we really don't care if they get caught, there's no great suspense built up. We are lead to believe these women are way to clever to be caught, so when they do (and we do they get caught right at the beginning of the movie) we just don't care. At least I didn't.

The Story and Screenplay rating: *1/2 out of *****

The Performances: After watching this film, it's hard to believe Diane Keaton has ever received an Oscar Nomination (Something's Gotta Give, Marvin's Room), becuase I hated her in this movie. Her character was a crazy little b***h. I don't know if it was the character or her performance, but I just don't care, she was awful. Oscar nominee Queen Latifah (Chicago) is probably the only performance I liked in this film. Her character was just as gross as the rest of them, but in terms of the performance, I enjoyed her. I usually do. Non-Oscar nominee and Queen of Scientology Katie Holmes played an....interesting character. Is that what happens when Tom Cruise lets her out of the house? I don't even think she combed her hair for this movie. Performance wise, she was OK, but she's never been good.

The Performances rating: *1/2 out of *****

The Direction and Filmaking: There was nothing overly impressive about the direction of this film. It looked worse than most heist movies, which usually have a sleeker look to them, and fancy camera shots. This was a movie about women stealing from a money shredding part of a bank. How can you make that look exciting? Well the director didn't know how either.

The Direction and Filmaking rating: ** out of *****

CURRENT MIKEY @ THE MOVIES AWARD NOMINATIONS:

• Worst Lead Performance of the Year (Diane Keaton)

To view this films theatrical trailer, click this link: Mad Money

*This was the 60th new film that I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.