Mad Money (2008)

Director: Callie Khouri

Cast: Diane Keaton as Bridget Cardigan, Ted Danson as Don Cardigan, Katie Holmes as Jackie Truman, Adam Rothenberg as Bob Truman, Queen Latifah as Nina Brewster, Peyton 'Alex' Smith as Older Dante (as Peyton Smith), Charlie Caldwell as Cop #1, Richard F Law as Cop #2 (as Richard Law), Meagen Fay as Mindy Arbogast, Christopher McDonald as Bryce Arbogast (as Chris McDonald), Denise Lee as Counselor, Sylvia Castro Galan as Selina, Morgana Shaw as Molly, Roger R. Cross as Barry (as Roger Cross), Stephen Root as Glover

Directed by Callie Khouri (best known for writing the famous Ridely
Scott film "Thelma & Louise"), Mad Money tells the story of three women
working at the Kansas Federal Reserve Bank (though the movie was shot
in Louisiana) who work out a system to steal money that is about to be
shredded. Obviously, stuff happens.

Mad Money is far from being the best heist film out there. Recent
efforts such as After The Sunset, The Italian Job, The Thomas Crown
Affair, Entrapment or The Ladykillers are all much cooler. But just as
Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's" series is extremely overrated, this
widely panned film is quite underrated. Actually, though it is central
to the plot, the movie doesn't really focus on the heist element that
much preferring to stick with character interactions and light comedy.
Here also it's far from the funniest movie out there, but the humor is
pleasant and harmless.

The acting is pretty good all around. Diane Keaton is certainly better
here than in her horrible performance in the previous year's Because I
Said So, and while some may find baffling that Katie Holmes chose this
over The Dark Knight, she certainly does a better job here at playing a
ditz than her uselessness in Batman Begins. Who knows? Maybe she just
doesn't like Batman, maybe she wanted a role that would center more on
her, maybe she just loves Thelma & Louise and is willing to have a
lower paycheck, which, being married to Tom Cruise, she can totally
afford to do. Queen Latifah is her usual self and it's always cool to
see Ted Danson and Christopher McDonald (even if it's little more than
a glorified cameo).

The movie has flaws yes, and shouldn't really show up on anyone's top
10 or top 200 list. The flashback narration doesn't really work that
well and the ending is pretty ludicrous, but what the hell it's just a
movie folks. I don't think anyone involved in the making of Mad Money
declared that this movie will radically change your views on life. It's
just simple harmless entertainment, something pleasant to watch if you
stumble upon it.