All About the Benjamins
This articleis missing informationabout the film's production.(July 2016) |
All About the Benjamins | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Kevin Bray |
Written by | Ice Cube Ronald Lang |
Produced by | Matt Alvarez Ice Cube |
Starring | Ice Cube Mike Epps Eva Mendes Tommy Flanagan |
Cinematography | Glen MacPherson |
Edited by | Suzanne Hines |
Music by | John Murphy |
Production company | |
Distributed by | New Line Cinema |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $15 million |
Box office | $26 million[1] |
All About the Benjaminsis a 2002 Americanbuddyaction comedy filmdirected byKevin Bray,starringIce CubeandMike Eppsas a bounty hunter and a con artist who join forces to find a group of diamond thieves: the former for glory, and the latter to retrieve a lost winning lottery ticket. The film was released in theaters in March 2002 to negative reviews. Despite this, the film was a moderate box office hit. The film's title was taken from the popular 1997 hip-hop song performed by Puff Daddy "It's All About the Benjamins". Ice Cube and Mike Epps also starred together in theFridayseries and the (2009) filmJanky Promoters.
Plot
[edit]Tyson Bucum is a bounty hunter trying to acquire the funds to start a private investigation firm, and Reggie is a small-time hustler and bail skipper previously apprehended by Bucum three times. Reggie lives with Gina, his trusting girlfriend. One day, Reggie buys a lottery ticket and wins $60 million. However, he spots diamond thieves running away, and he hides in their van. Reggie escapes the thieves but runs into Bucum. The two of them cannot stand each other, but they team up to retrieve Reggie's wallet with the lottery ticket, and to catch the diamond thieves and recover the diamonds.
Cast
[edit]- Ice Cubeas Tyson Bucum, a bounty hunter who has a hatred for his job due to low-budget payment and teams up with Reggie, eventually befriending him.
- Mike Eppsas Reggie Wright, a con artist who teams with Bucum.
- Eva Mendesas Gina, Reggie's girlfriend.
- Tommy Flanaganas Robert Williamson, the main antagonist, a speed boat dealership owner trying to get his hands on $20 million in diamonds.
- Carmen Chaplinas Ursula, a diamond thief working for Williamson and also his lover.
- Valarie Rae Milleras Pam, Bucum's girlfriend who is also his co-worker.
- Roger Guenveur Smithas Julian Ramose, a diamond thief working for Williamson.
- Anthony Michael Hallas "Lil J", a con artist and drug dealer who is arrested by Bucum earlier in the film.
- Anthony Giaimo as Martinez, Bucum's Boss.
- Robert MacBeth as Mr. Dwight Sheldon, a local store owner who shows great annoyance of Reggie.
- Bob Carter as Mr. Barkley, a wealthy man who has a batch of diamonds, wanted by Williamson.
- Bow Wowas Kelly (Lil Bow Wow), a neighbor of Reggie.
- Barbara Barron as Mrs. Barkley, the wife of Mr. Barkley.
Reception
[edit]All About the Benjaminsreceived generally mixed reviews from critics. On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,31% of 74 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "A sloppy, poorly directed action-comedy,All About the Benjaminsis too derivative and gratuitously violent. "[2]Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 34 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[3]
Ed Gonzalez ofSlant Magazinewrote that: "[T]he film simultaneously embraces and rejects the dog-whistle vaudeville ofRush Hourand the testosterone overload ofBad Boys,and the result is an absurd, sometimes elegant look at cultural emancipation via the buck. "[4]Entertainment Weekly'sLisa Schwarzbaumgave the movie an overall C− grade, writing that: "I don't know if Cube is melting as he warms up his persona to be all things to all audiences — tough but tender, rap-real but corporate-ready — or if Epps' off-spin, discount-Tuckerprattle is slowing Cube's game. But something puddles to nothing in this relentless Miami sun. "[5]Russell Smith ofThe Austin Chroniclecriticized the film for being "another slice off the increasingly stale buddy-pic loaf" that came after48 Hrs.,highlighting the "random disconnectedness" of the action scenes as "downright insulting" and the nasty violence for coming across as "benignly cartoonish silliness".[6]
Soundtrack
[edit]A soundtrack containinghip hopandrhythm and bluesmusic was released on February 19, 2002 byNew Line Records.It peaked at #65 on theBillboard 200and #12 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^"All About the Benjamins (2002)".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedMarch 6,2013.
- ^"All About the Benjamins".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.RetrievedFebruary 25,2024.
- ^"All About the Benjamins".Metacritic.Fandom, Inc.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
- ^Gonzalez, Ed (February 27, 2002)."Review: All About the Benjamins".Slant Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
- ^Schwarzbaum, Lisa(March 6, 2002)."All About the Benjamins".Entertainment Weekly.Archivedfrom the original on October 4, 2020.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
- ^Smith, Russell (March 15, 2002)."All About the Benjamins - Movie Review".The Austin Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
External links
[edit]- 2002 films
- 2002 directorial debut films
- 2002 action comedy films
- 2000s American films
- 2000s buddy comedy films
- 2000s buddy cop films
- 2002 crime comedy films
- 2000s English-language films
- African-American films
- American action comedy films
- American buddy comedy films
- American crime comedy films
- Cube Vision films
- English-language action comedy films
- English-language crime comedy films
- Films about con artists
- Films about bounty hunters
- Films directed by Kevin Bray (director)
- Films produced by Ice Cube
- Films scored by John Murphy (composer)
- Films set in Miami
- Films with screenplays by Ice Cube
- New Line Cinema films