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Mad Money (2008)

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26 comments in total

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42 out of 66 people found the following comment useful :-
I thought it was cute, 19 January 2008

Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I were looking for a movie to see this weekend and Mad Money was the only movie that looked like fun. When we finished the movie, the audience was happy and we were happy, this was a fun and cute movie. So I have to say that I am very very surprised by this harsh rating on IMDb, I mean, a 4.4?! You have got to be kidding me, this is by no means movie of the year, but for what it was, this was just a fun comedy to watch. There wasn't any major problems with this movie that deserves that kind of a rating that makes it look like the first major flop of the year. Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, and Katie Holmes were absolutely adorable together and had great chemistry. They made the story an Oceans Eleven for the girls, sounds like such a chick flick, but I think this is one that most could actually enjoy.

Bridget and her husband, Dan are in major debt, really bad debt, like 282,000 dollars in debt. They are about to loose everything they own, so Bridget gets a job as a janitor for the financial bank. When she notices the ultimate torture of how they shred worn out money, she gets a clever idea with the help of two other girl employees, Nina and Jackie, to find a way to break the system and get that money to get out of their poor situations. Once they get what they need, Bridget is so satisfied with how smooth everything went, she wants more and they go for it, but they should learn not to get so greedy since someone is on their tale.

Mad Money is a chick flick, but it's one of the rare one's that I liked. I didn't think there was anything wrong with this film. I think they could have explained the situation with the boss of the bank a little better, I don't know if he was in on it or what, but it's something that could slide I think. Queen Latifah was just so funny and Diane Keaton was a perfect choice for Bridget, Katie Holmes was pretty decent for the comic relief. Please don't take the rating on IMDb seriously, I think that Mad Money was just a fun little comedy that deserves a better chance.

6/10

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31 out of 45 people found the following comment useful :-
Interesting Idea for a Financial Stimulus Package, 19 January 2008

Author: classicalsteve from Oakland, CA

"Mad Money" has reasonable entertainment value, great characters, and even a nice little unexpected twist at the end to satisfy the escapist movie-goer. The essential plot of Mad Money is not that original as heist movies go. The formula usually goes something like this: the characters are in a bad financial or similar situation, they find out about some booty supposedly completely unobtainable, devise a scheme to lift the booty which has some intriguing element(s) to it, and then go about getting the booty. Along the way there are some twists and turns to keep it interesting. If it's too easy, it won't work. Part of the fun is whether or not they will get away with it, and how they will do it. Heist movies are almost a dime a dozen these days, with fair such as "Oceans 11" (both the old and the new versions), its subsequent sequels, "Heist", "The Score", etc.

What gives "Mad Money" a unique flavor is the characters who enact the heist, essentially the Neapolitan kind: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Most Hollywood heist movies star middle-aged men devising elaborate schemes requiring PhD's to perpetrate the heist. In "Mad Money", the team of schemers are three women working at below-sea-level jobs at the Federal Reserve building: a white grandmother of the upper middle-class variety (Diane Keaton), a middle-aged African-American single mother trying to stay above water (Queen Latifah, who actually stuffs packs of bills into a large shredding machine), and Katie Holmes as a 20-something scatter-brain who will probably lose the better part of her hearing by movie's end. How Holmes ever landed a position at the Federal Reserve is one of the many intriguing mysteries of the movie. A rather unlikely swashbuckling gang of hoodlums who sport wash cloths and garbage bags instead of swords.

Keaton and Latifah have the most at stake in their interesting idea for a financial stimulus package: to lift ragged and torn bills from the Federal Reserve before they are about to be shredded. In other words, stealing money that really isn't money. However, I wouldn't try this at home. Year-round, the Federal Reserve acquires tons and tons of ragged and worn bills from banks and other large financial institutions and swaps them for new crisp clean bills. The ragged bills go by way of the shredding and pulping machines.

How they pull off the heist sort of works, although it does fray into a little bit of the fantastic as stealing from a Federal Governmental agency like the Federal Reserve is sort of akin to trying to raise the Titanic. It probably ain't gonna happen. However, a unique chemistry between the actors somehow makes the movie work, and the writers took the story seriously enough to give a lot of unexpected laughs, the way comedies of this type should be written. In other words, luckily the writers didn't try to make the movie "funny".

On a final note, the outstanding talent of the cast has to be Queen Latifah who does an excellent job of portraying a single mom who wants the booty but has ambivalence about the entire scheme. In fact the entire cast is excellent, with Diane Keaton believable as the guiding force behind the heist, and Ted Danson as her bewildered husband. My only criticism is that I would have liked a little more of a hint regarding the twist at the end which did come out of left field. Enjoyable and worth the price of admission, although I doubt I will shell out another 20 bucks for the DVD.

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27 out of 41 people found the following comment useful :-
Review - Mad Money (2008), 20 January 2008

Author: Sploich from United States

Have you ever wanted something so bad that you decided to just go for it? That's just what Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) decided to do in "Mad Money."

The story centers around three women, Bridget, Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes) and Nina Brewster (Queen Latifah), who work in a high security bank. One day Bridget gets the brilliant idea to steal dollar bills that are going to be shredded anyway and use them to pay off debts. The problem is, once you have an easy thing going, it's really hard to stop, especially when money's involved.

This movie would have probably been much better back in the 80's when this sort of plot was the norm. Not to say I don't think movies like this should be made today, but it probably would have just worked better. The real problem with this movie is that it's just not interesting enough. The story is somewhat unique, but the characters are cliché for a "chick flick." The writing also suffers because for some reason they decided this movie needed unnecessary political commentary.

Other than the aforementioned problems, the movie's really not all that bad. There're some problems with dialogue and the fact that there's no way it could really happen, but it's actually kind of a fun movie if only for one viewing. I don't see myself renting it in the future.

"Mad Money" is a movie for people who like this sort of movie. I say wait for the DVD unless you're a girl going with other girls (or forcing your husband along).

Acting: 7/10 Writing: 3/10 Video/Editing: 7/10 Audio/Music: 6/10 Entertainment: 6/10

Final Score: 5.8/10

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17 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Honey, Mad Money is funny and, while not perfect, is quite entertaining, too, 8 March 2008

Author: Amy Adler from Toledo, Ohio

Bridget (Diane Keaton) is a gracious matron with a lovely home. Yet, her world turns upside-down when her husband (Ted Danson) loses his job. Suddenly, bills are piling up and there is no solution in sight. Needing to maintain her lifestyle, Bridget takes a job as a custodial worker for the local branch of the federal mint. Now, she has the health care coverage she needs and the means to pay her creditors. But, she wants more, especially considering the menial tasks she is asked to perform and the smug attitude of the mint's bossman. Being a tough and smart cookie, Bridget hatches an elaborate plot to help herself to some of the worn-out bills that are headed for the shredder. But, in order for the scheme to work, she needs the aid of Nina (Queen Latifah), who operates one of the shredders, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), whose task it is to transport the cart of paper money to and fro. They agree, after some initial reluctance, to become Bridget's partners in crime, for Nina wants to send her two little boys to a fine school and Jackie has a need for some excitement. But, will they really be able to pull one over on the Feds? This is really a fairly funny movie, with a great plot and a nice cast. Keaton, especially, is fabulous as the conniving, high maintenance housewife and the Queen is equally wonderful as a single mother with big dreams. Danson, Christopher McDonald and the lesser players are fine, too. Only Holmes strikes a flat note, as her Jackie is rather forgettable. Since Katie has shown she is a fine actress (see Pieces of April or Abandon), one can only conclude that the director failed her miserably. Then, too, she sports an awful hair style and terrible costumes throughout the film as well. This is most odd, for Keaton and Latifah look great. Although the sets are not noteworthy, they are certainly adequate, as is the look of the film. If you have heard that this film is a bomb, don't believe it. While it may not be a masterpiece, it definitely has its funny moments and zany charm, more than enough, in fact, to make it a worthwhile watch.

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11 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Enjoyable movie even with all it's flaws, 16 January 2008

Author: Douglas Young (the-movie-guy) from Memphis, Tennessee

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

(Synopsis) Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) is a dedicated mother and corporate wife living in an upper middle class neighborhood when her husband Don (Ted Danson) is downsized from his job of 30 years. Don has been looking for a job for a whole year. With the threat of losing everything, Bridget must find a job. She has an English Lit degree, but no job experience. She finally takes the only job that she can find as a janitor at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City. The one-time corporate wife now works with Nina (Queen Latifah), a single mom with two kids who shreds old money, and Jackie (Katie Holmes), young, beautiful, and a little strange, who moves the money cart. Every day the bank shreds over a million dollars. Bridget begins to think of what she can do with some of that old money, and she comes up with a plan. Bridget needs Nina and Jackie for the plan to work. They all join forces and start taking home the money. These three women have pulled off the perfect crime.

(My Comment) This movie is a good example of what three average women who have learned to work the system for their own advantage can do when they want something bad enough even though it is illegal. It also shows you what will eventually happen when you have enough money and should stop, but greed sets in. Diane Keaton was wonderful in her part as a stay at home wife who must get a job to survive. Life can be hard when the breadwinner losses his job. Everybody already knows that the difference between a bum and a respected person is a job. These three women had a job; however, they turned to the life of crime only to get what they did not earn. I know it is only a movie, but working for your money is important, especially since Nina had two kids at home. Queen Latifah's performance was convincing and at times touching. Katie Holmes' performance was funny, but a little unusual. It is an enjoyable movie, but you can wait for the DVD to come out. (Overturn Films, Run Time 1:44, Rated PG-13)(5/10)

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8 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Funny, well crafted jokes and amazing acting from everyone, 29 March 2008

Author: John Doe from United Kingdom

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I just came from the cinema and my jaws hurt from all that laughing. Amazing performance from everyone. The writing was good and even though it had the Fun with Dick and Jane approach in the beginning the film is more than enjoyable. Jokes are well crafted and you laugh constantly. It is a shame that people rated this so low. I was reluctant to see it because I checked the film here first. I am happy I ignored the low rating because it was worth the cinema ticket. Not the first time when the IMDb rating does not do justice to a film. If you are in a mood for a comedy on a Saturday night and fancy a good laugh, go see this one and you will not be disappointed.

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15 out of 24 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth The Ticket Price, 2 February 2008

Author: Zen416 from United States

We went to see this not expecting all that much and were nicely surprised by what a good little comedy this turned out to be. Diane Keaton was in top form as Bridget, a former upper-middle class hausfrau who's forced to toil away as a janitor at the federal reserve because her hubby (played by Ted Danson's perfect straight man) is no longer employed. Naturally frustrated with her circumstances and itching for a quicker fix to her financial woes, Bridget hatches a plan to rip off the Federal Reserve with the help to 2 other recruits, Nina (the moral centre of the trio, ably played by Queen Latifah) and Jackie (a really funny and charming Katie Holmes). Roger R. Cross and Adam Rothenberg give good supporting performances as Nina's nice-guy admirer and Jackie's amusing dim-bulb husband. The movie has a couple of good twists so that the outcome isn't the usual predictable stuff and it stays funny and warm throughout. It's a shame this opened around the same time as "Cloverfield" because this quirky little film didn't get the box office it should have. Hopefully, people will give this amusing chick-buddy flick a try. Give it a shot.

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22 out of 38 people found the following comment useful :-
Needs to be Remade Again, 27 January 2008

Author: dennis_chiu1 from United States

The overwhelming feeling of disappointment after walking out of this film is that this film could have been much more. The caper at the heart of "Mad Money" most closely resembles "The Inside Man", director Spike Lee's under appreciated masterpiece bank robbery film. However, the films could not be more different. Spike Lee was smart and experienced enough to know that even with a great cast and clever caper, you need a vision to bring out greatness. Mr. Lee also knew that you must choose a style.

Director Kallie Khouri, best known for writing and producing the feminist cult classic "Thelma & Louise" failed in every conceivable way - she demonstrates no eye for cinematography, a tin ear for dialogue, no timing for pacing, no point of view, and no talent for directing actors.

"Mad Money" is based on an British caper television movie "Hot Money", produced by Granada Television. The screenplay translation to America was written by Glenn Gers, whose best known screenplay to date was "Fracture" staring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling. Mr. Gers failed miserably to take any chances. A more talented writer would have created the characters from whole cloth, rather than substituting American stereotypes; in "Mad Money" there is the head-bopping early twenty-something, the black single mother in the projects, and the upper middle class desperate housewife. There is no excuse for laziness. If Mr. Gers had create real people, then perhaps he wouldn't have created characters that came out of other people's poor imagination. Writing requires an understanding of humanity and cannot be faked. The screenplay for "Mad Money" had not one shred of genuine emotion. Spare me the notion that these characters were suppose to be light and frothy drawbacks to characters like in the caper classic "Ladykillers" with Sir Alec Guinness. There were just about 3 laughs in the entire picture. If I ever was so lucky to have a cast with Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton, I'd be embarrassed that I had put such a blemish on their filmographies, by giving them so little to make great.

No comedy, no drama, no thrills, no real danger, and no romance creates no film worth watching. I wish they could have afforded Carrie Fisher to doctor this screenplay and imbue it with a glint of genuine greed or true wit or anything that would have made this film any more watchable.

I also wish that the studio would have kept Ms. Khouri in the producer's chair, and brought in a director who knew how to fix a script, bring style, rather than shoot from an anywhere goes point of view, and attempt to make something memorable.

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17 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
Mad Fun!, 16 February 2008

Author: phantomtristan from United States

Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Katie Holmes, and Callie Khouri (the screenwriter of Thelma and Louise) come together so perfectly in this entertaining crime adventure.

Bridget (played by Diane Keaton) is the wife a laid-off a corporate manager Don (played by Ted Danson) and when he tells her they will be downsizing (selling their beautiful house, living simpler, etc.), she looks for a job to desperately keep them in their respective status. Having not worked in years, the only job opening she is able to find is the janitor at a Federal Reserve Bank. As she watches the shredding of worn out bills day in and day out, she concocts a plan.

However for her plan to work she needs two people to help her, and before long she solicits their help. They are Nina (played by Queen Latifah) the shredder, and Jackie (played by Katie Holmes) the carrier. As everything goes according to plan they start smuggling out hoards of cash and before long they have everything they could want…except for more. As they keep taking more, their actions catch the eye of the IRS, and their perfect plan starts spiraling out of control.

No, it doesn't have the intensely, complicated wit of other heist movies like the Oceans 11-13 or The Italian Job, but it is fiendishly entertaining. How nice to just sit back and enjoy this as entertainment, rather than try and figure out or follow all the intricate plot twists of other crime films.

It is refreshing to see a more "feminist" film from Hollywood, with all three leads as well as the director being women. I always wonder if women ever get annoyed at the lack of female lead roles in Hollywood films (especially since Jodie Foster only makes one film per year!).

All three actresses have great chemistry, and do well on their own. Diane Keaton is the queen of comic (yet not over-the-top) acting, Queen Latifah is sensible and sophisticated, and Katie Holmes morphs back into a teenage-twenty-something with flair.

This is an simple, enjoyable crime romp, with a great script that is just MAD FUN!

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17 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
Don't rush to see it, 23 January 2008

Author: laviniacg from United States

Mad Money was mildly entertaining...very mildly. It can't seem to muster the energy to be more so. Because of the movie's structure, you more-or-less know where the movie's headed and you basically just have to sit and see how it gets there. Along the way, the characters are making what seem to be really obvious mistakes that any law-enforcement official with a lick of sense would catch on to in no time.

The main characters are pretty nonchalant about stealing gobs of money, and the supposedly vigilant security staff is equally blasé - barely expending the energy to raise an inquiring eyebrow when they see suspicious behavior. Significant others are also pretty halfhearted in their attempts to point out the negative consequences of their loved ones' behavior, and end up just going with the felonious flow.

Why not rent a copy of the Italian Job or Ocean's Eleven instead?

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