So I was on a flight to Phoenix on Thursday evening and I got to see this movie. I didn't even have to buy a headset for $5 because my own worked. Ain't that sweet?

I think this is a remake of the British comedy 'Hot Money'. It is about three women working at the Federal Reserve who form a team to steal money scheduled to be destroyed.

Bridget Cardigan (DIANE KEATON) is a rich suburban housewife who enjoys her comfortable lifestyle. Her husband, Don (TED DANSON), has recently lost his job. He puts up their house for sale due to a $286,000 debt. So to save their house and way of life, Bridget gets a job as a custodian at the Kansas City Federal Reserve office.

She learns they destroy money taken out of circulation which gives her a devious idea. If the money is just thrown out, why not steal it? Bridget can't pull off the heist by herself, so she puts together a team of insiders. She enlists the help of Jackie Truman (KATIE HOLMES) who lives in a camper with her husband Bob (ADAM ROTHENBERG), a meatpacker. She also gets the cooperation of single mom, Nina Brewster (QUEEN LATIFAH) whose job it is to shred the money.

My take:

Katie Holmes is fine. Queen Latifah does her usual thing and Diane Keaton continues her fade into screen history having a bad and annoying performance. I found myself gritting my teeth in a couple of places not because the story or any character was scary. No…Keaton herself was scary. Why did she do this?

The many, repeated attempts at humor were forced and not very funny. I never bought into the characters’ behavior. They seemed to lack any motivation, deviousness or gullibility to go along with the scheme. I never figured out how Bridget goes from suburban housewife with a naïve streak to a near criminal mastermind.

Interesting is the theme of greed and how we can be tempted to act on it. It’s our condition. We’re not happy with our lives. Money will solve the problem. In debt? Money is the answer. We want better and more things? Money is the ticket. Money seems to be is the answer to all our problems. It answers the nagging question, “How do I achieve status, financial security, obtain tons of friends and acceptance in a fun, non-hurtful way.” This is what the world believes and so do too many followers of Christ.

Yes, there are some redeeming themes; friendship, love, honor (even among thieves) and sharing. But the premise in the film is greed and the conviction that money will solve all our problems.

If you like Holmes, Keaton and Danson and enjoy Queen Latifah’s regular shtick, you might be able to take this. If not,  it needs shredding  and tossing.