The Cardigans are used to a cushy lifestyle, but that all changes when Don (Ted Danson) loses his job and the pile of bills overtakes the funds in their bank accounts. Bridget (Keaton) is stunned to learn they’re now $268,000 in debt with no income coming in and no real prospects on the horizon. The final straw is a bounced check to their maid. Not only will the upper-class Bridget have to do her own dishes, she’ll also have to find employment or risk a life on the streets.
Fortunately, the maid turns Bridget on to a position with the Federal Reserve Bank. Bridget can’t use a computer and has no real employable skills, but apparently she is talented enough to be hired as a janitor. Almost immediately upon accepting the job, she figures out a way to rob the place. No one else has ever done it, but Bridget comes up with a plan seemingly within hours of being on the job. Yeah, right…
Queen Latifah’s the one bright spot in this otherwise inane comedy. As the grounded one of the threesome, she’s sensible and logical, and her character more closely resembles a real person than the other two leading ladies. Keaton’s done this sort of role before and it’s not that much fun to watch her mug her way through another goofball comedy. But poor Katie Holmes drew the real short end of the stick in Mad Money. I’ve never seen anyone act the way her character Jackie does while at work. Dancing and swaying and generally acting a fool, it’s tough to believe this woman would be allowed anywhere near the Federal Reserve Bank, let alone assigned to as important of a job as hauling around used money. In a film populated with caricatures, Holmes’ Jackie is the most ridiculous.
Mad Money isn’t completely rotten, but it’s sour enough to leave an unpleasant aftertaste. Keaton and Holmes never disappear into their characters, and Queen Latifah can’t hold this one together on her own. After the first half hour of the film you know exactly what’s going to happen, who it’s going to happen to, and why. The fact there’s still hour to go is enough to make you mad at Mad Money.
GRADE: C-
Mad Money was directed by Callie Khouri and is rated PG-13 for sexual material and language, and brief drug references.
Theatrical Release Date: January 18, 2008
