STUDIO: Overture Films
RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2008
STARRING: Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, Ted Danson, Christopher McDonald, Roger Cross, and Stephen Root
WRITTEN BY: Glenn Gers
DIRECTED BY: Callie Khouri
FEATURES: Commentary by Director Callie Khouri
Makin' Money: Behind the Scenes of Mad Money
Theatrical Trailer

It sure would be tempting if you worked around money all day to take just a little bit for yourself, wouldn't it? The problem with human nature is that none of us are capable of taking "a little bit". A little leads to a lot. And a lot leads to jail. Mad Money is about that side of humanity that refuses to stop at enough. It's an unusual comedy, a movie that's not very funny and not very realistic (especially the incredibly awkward ending), and yet it has its charms, mostly due to its better-than-expected ensemble. Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes star as three workers at a Federal Bank who decide to take a little bit of the top of the batches of worn-out currency that is headed to the shredder anyway. In the simplicity of its set-up, the heist is kind of brilliant - steal money that's going to be shredded anyway and that will probably return right back to their hands after the bank decides it's too worn-out after it's deposited again. In other words, they're stealing the same money over and over again. 24's Roger Cross steals scenes as a warm-hearted security guard and the always-great Stephen Root co-stars as the dictator-like head of the bank.

In previews, Mad Money was pitched as a "wild comedy" to audiences earlier this year and fans turned away in droves, but it's actually not that horrible. Director Callie Khouri (the writer of Thelma & Louise) wisely avoids the slapstick comedy that usually makes movies like this so unbearable. Queen Latifah is more charming than she has been in recently horrific career decisions and the supporting cast, including Cross, Root, and Ted Danson, feel surprisingly believable. But, in the end, Mad Money just isn't that funny. Honestly, Mad Money feels like an old-fashioned comedy, the kind of laffer they made much more often in the '80s than in the gross-out era we're currently in now. You can decide for yourself if that's a good or a bad thing. It should be funnier, but it's never painful, and if you like your comedy old-fashioned, it's a good flick for you.

Mad Money comes with a commentary by director Callie Khouri and a pretty generic behind-the-scenes featurette. For movies like this, you only notice the video and audio if it's distractingly bad and neither are. They're not show-off-your-system good but they're good enough to never distract from the film itself. Finally, the film's original trailer along with a few for upcoming Overture movies including Sleepwalking and The Visitor round out the special features for a not-so-special but not-so-bad comedy.