Mad Money

In a film well-written and directed by Calie Khouri of “Thelma and Louise” and “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” fame, three women from different walks of life take the phrase “Necessity is the mother of invention” to the next level. In this sting-like caper, Diane Keaton, Queen Latifa, and Katie Holmes meet while working at the Federal Reserve. Soon they take the viewer on what seems like a fun ride. The ladies are at their acting best, Oscar® winner Diane Keaton (“Annie Hall”) and Oscar® nominee Queen Latifa (“Chicago”) and Katie Holmes (“Dawson’s Creek” and “Wonder Boys”) are simply wonderfully easy to watch, as they aren’t just playing these roles, they become them. Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Ted Danson (“Damages”, “Cheers”) is elegant, well spoken and very funny as always—fitting perfectly into his character of a man at the end of his rope, having lost his job and finding himself almost three hundred thousand dollars in debt. Soon, his wife Bridget (Keaton) has brought all of them into her desperate search for a better life, and they all begin to check their consciences at the door.

Of course, after the money starts coming in, greed replaces need, and no one is looking back. This film is funny, by all means, but there’s more to this plot than recycling pre-shredded money. Not only are these people not content with their circumstances, but lying, stealing and breaking the law seems like nothing compared to the comfort instant wealth seems to bring. As one of the characters states, “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy everything else.” Danson’s character also says, at one point, he’s not sorry, so it’s clear there’s no repentance.

Matthew 18:27 tells us, “Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.”

As the story unfolds, we almost root for these people, as their circumstances and personalities draw you in to justify what they are doing.

There is a show of love, however…

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Katie Holmes really exercises her acting chops as Jackie, she’s funny and extremely convincing as a trailer-dwelling, i-Pod listening “chick” whose “dumb” demeanor isn’t what it seems, and who’s heart of gold comes through at the end.

This film is entertaining and fun to watch, and at times endearing, but it truly shows the condition of the world. We’re not happy with our lives? We need money. We’re in debt? We need money. We want better things? We need money. It seems money is the answer to all problems, and it seems to answer the age old question of “how do I achieve status and quick financial comfort in a fun and non-threatening way.”

The name of GOD is mentioned several times in a derogatory way. Women are once referred to as the B-word, the S-word is used five or six times—once by a child. There is brief, partial nudity, and the word “sex” is used several times in a casual way. There are brief scenes in which they show ways in which money can be used, including placing it in an exotic dancer’s underwear. The fact that Queen Latifa has not had sex in seven years is mentioned a few times and seems horribly impossible to Holmes’ character. Also, drugs are mentioned, as Jackie prefers to have the ladies think she’s on drugs, rather than tell them she’s diabetic—hence the needle in her purse.

Romans 13:9 states “For the commandments, you shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying namely, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Also, it reads on greed,

Luke 11:39 “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness’.”

And, on our words and what we speak, we read,

Matthew 12:34 “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Though we do see some redeeming qualities in the love and bond these characters develop for one another—and the fact that they are otherwise nice people with seemingly good intentions, I cannot help but note that the premise of the film is based on greed and lack of conviction and faith that GOD above all will supply all our needs, financial and otherwise.

2 Corinthians 6:4 “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses.”

And we read in Matthew 6:26,

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

All in all, I do not recommend this film if the above issues are offensive to you. It is a light-hearted comedy which does not mean to offend, but to entertain those who only mean to be entertained.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: Minor

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.