MAD MONEY, directed by the Oscar winning scriptwriter of THELMA AND LOUISE Callie Khouri (DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD), is the typical chick flick where the ladies get to do what they want and get away with it while the male counterparts are portrayed as idiots or pawns in their schemes.

The plot sounds simple enough.  Three women under the slightly crazed leadership of Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton) steal money from Federal Reserve that they work for.  The accomplices are Nina (Queen Latifah) and the younger Jackie (Katie Holmes).  But as the film progresses, Glenn Gers’s script wanders into other territories like money laundering and getting away.

MAD MONEY is not overtly hilarious but Khouri is quite a good storyteller, keeping her film moving with a bit of suspense with false alarms well orchestrated and the interest level steady.  More is added to the story each time – Nina’s love interest; Nina’s kids; Jackie’s slacker boyfriend – though nothing much comes out from any of them.  Keaton, Latifah and Holmes make a good combination and (they) appear to have a smashing time making the film.
But as far as originality goes, MAD MONEY gets a zero rating.  One thing to note - MAD MONEY is a remake of a British TV movie entitled HOT MONEY, which according to the Brits is much funnier than this one.