Crime is contagious. Individuals get down on their luck and look to any means to get back on the good side. These individuals seek out help from other individuals who are also down on their luck hoping they will assist on the process to get back on top of society. Crime seizes the best of these individuals usually resulting in being caught and doing some jail time. Crime is greed. Crime is Mad Money.

The story begins when Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) and her husband (Ted Danson) get themselves in a huge debt. To get out of debt, Bridget takes a job at a Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City. With the help of two co-workers, Nina Brewster (Queen Latifah) and Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes), the three devise a plan to steal money from the bank, but the catch is that the money is moments from being shredded. The plan is successful, and the three women are rewarded with enough money to improve their daily lives. When the women become greedy, and continue to steal without knowing the consequences, their greed would eventually get the best of them.

The three leading ladies in this film seem out of their usual film elements. Not one of these actresses seem right in this film with their usual film personalities consisting of sweetness and comedy. These two aspects do not seem to fit well with story. I have to admit coming into this film, I was not expecting much. But in fact, this film impressed me with its quick wit and quality. I truly believe that this film could have been much better if three different actresses were chosen for the leading roles. Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes, and Queen Latifah don’t rob banks. They are heads of households, teens who hang out by creeks, and beauty shop owners. Crime is not for them.

Diane Keaton carries most of the dialogue being the key character of the story, Queen Latifah brings the heart and soul, and Katie Holmes brings in the loony fun. Ted Danson, as Keaton’s helpful spouse, provides a comic performance that is lacking with the three leading actresses. I wonder if Katie Holmes is kicking herself for not reprising her role as Rachael Dawes in the Batman Begins sequel, The Dark Knight, instead of taking this role. What a big career move in the wrong direction. She is mad for not taking the money that The Dark Knight would have brought her, not to mention the publicity.

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