By PHILIP WUNTCH - The Dallas Morning News

"Bringing Down the House" never collapses, which is a tribute to its cast. Each plot development is predictable, but the movie contains funny and even hilarious moments. This is one high-concept, please-the-masses comedy that works.
Steve Martin's and Queen Latifah's consummate styles triumph over bland direction. With no discernible personal flourish, director Adam Shankman's simply allows his star personalities to strut. Such indulgence worked for J. Lo in "The Wedding Planner" and, to some extent, for Mandy Moore in "A Walk to Remember." And it works to great effect with Queen Latifah. The Oscar nominee has the good grace to pretend she doesn't notice that her new movie has only a small fraction of "Chicago's" wit.

The movie also allows Martin a shining return to physical comedy. Although his co-star has the more obvious "wild and crazy" role, those words once again apply to Martin's style. As a priggish attorney, the comic actor reacts hilariously to his character's increasingly muddled dilemma. Both stars work in perfect harmony.

And then there's the plot

Uptight Peter Sanderson (Martin) is a divorced father of two. His job as tax attorney at a stuffy law firm allows no time to connect with his kids. Longing for some semblance of romance, he arranges a rendezvous with an alleged Ivy League, female attorney he befriended on the Internet. But Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah) turns out to have a criminal record instead of a law degree. She maintains her innocence of armed robbery, claiming that an ex-boyfriend framed her.

Charlene's invasion of Peter's cocoon inevitably has favorable results. She teaches him to loosen up, talk the right lingo and establish street cred with his offspring. In a sense, Charlene performs the same functions as the loyal domestics in such vintage flicks as "Imitation of Life," but Queen Latifah always has the upper hand — one that's ready to slap down any trace of bigotry.

The supporting cast also delivers in solid fashion. Eugene Levy, warmly remembered as Jason Biggs' dad in "American Pie," does wonders with the potentially superficial role of a proper lawyer who instantly lusts after Charlene. Similarly predictable is the character of a tyrannical heiress who just needs a little marijuana to help her unwind. As gamely played by Joan Plowright, the character actually seems fresh and funny, experiencing the most dignified "high" ever recorded on film.

Betty White deserves more footage as Peter's easily agitated Beverly Hills neighbor, who automatically assumes that Charlene is the maid. Michael Rosenbaum epitomizes silken yuppie deviltry as Peter's office rival. Jean Smart, of television's "Designing Women" and 1999's unappreciated "Guinevere," is in fine, wry form as the hero's confused ex-wife.

Everyone seems to have a good time. If you can ignore the plot contrivances, so will you.