IT'S DIFFICULT to remember the last time Steve Martin made a decent film; even harder still to recall a decent comedy.

Considering the buzz surrounding Bringing Down The House, you might conclude that Martin's star is finally back in the ascendant.

But you'd be wrong. Not only does Adam Shankman's culture clash comedy fail to live up to its title, the screenplay makes easy targets of its racially stereotyped characters.

Divorced, middle class attorney Peter Sanderson (Martin) hasn't recovered from the departure of his wife Kate (Jean Smart), and has been reluctant to become involved in a relationship ever since.

By chance, he begins chatting to a woman named Charlene (Queen Latifah) over the Internet and the two strike up a flirtatious friendship. They decide to meet face to face at Peter's house and he's horrified to learn she isn't a beautiful blonde lawyer at all.

In fact, Charlene is a feisty black ex-con desperate to overturn her conviction and clear her name. At first, the pair clash, but with the help of Peter's children (Kimberly J Brown, Angus T Jones), they soon become the best of friends.

Bringing Down The House sets itself up as a frothy romantic comedy and should proceed to make Peter and Charlene fall in love despite their obvious differences.

Curiously, the film goes out of its way to desexualise their relationship and hurriedly brings in Peter's eccentric best friend Howie (Eugene Levy) as a potential suitor for Charlene.

More worryingly, Charlene pays her way by taking care of Peter's children, cooking and cleaning.

Short of putting on a pinny, she embraces the role of house help - hardly a positive career move for an obviously intelligent and independent 21st century black woman.

Rating: 5/10

DAMON SMITH