Mad Money (2008)

O Masterpiece
O Excellent
X Rental
O OK
O Mediocrity
O Avoid

Review by Jason Pyles / January 31, 2008

Why is it so alluring to think about instantly becoming filthy rich and all the things we’d buy and do with that money? If you’ve never pondered such a thing (first of all, that’s weird), and second, try it right now. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about this universal mental exercise that magically excites me.

Whatever that phenomenon is, it’s the very same one that makes “Mad Money” so much fun. There’s nothing Oscar-worthy about this movie, but I’ve ranked it as a rental because it is so enjoyable. If you ever want an easy, happy, feel-good film, “Mad Money” is the one for you. I can’t go so far as to call it excellent, primarily because it’s not quite worth theater prices. (But hey, if you do instantly become filthy rich, knock yourself out and see it in the theater. Heck, buy the whole theater.)

The story of “Mad Money” is told through a flashback. It follows that classic narrative technique like the one in “All About Eve” (1950), where it begins near the end, catches us up on everything that’s already transpired through flashbacks, then shows us what follows after the point where the movie began.

As a result, we know from the beginning that our criminal masterminds get busted, because several characters are being interviewed in an interrogation room, which supplies the storyline for said flashbacks. Part of the intrigue of the movie is seeing exactly what crime was committed, by whom, and how these thieves finally get caught. So, yes, “Mad Money” is basically a heist flick, another criminal caper peopled with colorful characters.

The ring leader of these is Bridget (Diane Keaton), a 60-something, upper-middle-class woman who’s used to having an employed husband (Ted Danson) and all the comforts of life, including a cleaning lady. But when financial ruin falls upon them due to her husband’s perpetual unemployment, Bridget enters the work force. And because of her “maturity” and lack of previous work experience, Bridget settles on being a janitor at the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank.

While making her rounds as a janitor, Bridget discovers that the Federal Reserve destroys a million dollars each day, simply because the bills are tattered and worn out. She devises a plan for robbing the bank, and seeks strategically employed accomplices to assist her, which is where Nina (Queen Latifah) and Jackie “Katie Holmes” come in. And that’s the plot: The three ladies continue robbing the bank, over and over again, because the money they steal is untraceable and let’s face it, irresistible.

Keaton, Latifah and Holmes have a good onscreen chemistry together. It appears that they enjoyed making this movie, and that energy transfers into the audience. There’s a nice dead-horse theme that’s repeatedly beaten about how we should not want too much. And unfortunately, the movie also has a useless subplot about Latifah’s character not having sex for many years, like we care. Oh, and the legal details become conveniently rubbery at points, but songwriters are allowed strained rhymes, so screenwriters should be granted similar leniency from time to time.

Directed by Callie Khouri
Diane Keaton / Queen Latifah / Katie Holmes
Comedy 104 min.
MPAA: PG-13 (for sexual material and language, and brief drug references)

U.S. Release Date: January 18, 2008
Copyright 2008: 229