SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?

"WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN?"
(2001) (Martin Lawrence, Danny DeVito) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Moderate	Minor	Heavy	None	Mild

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	None	*None	Heavy

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Moderate	Minor	Moderate	Mild

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A professional thief tries to get back the ring that was stolen by his last victim, a ruthless billionaire businessman.

PLOT:

Kevin Caffery (MARTIN LAWRENCE) is a professional thief with high tastes in both exquisite women and valuable loot. Thus, it comes as no surprise that he hits on Amber Belhaven (CARMEN EJOGO), a beautiful young woman who's being forced to sell a piece of art at an auction to pay off her hotel bill. The two end up in bed after Kevin lifts the purchased piece, and in turn, she gives him a unique ring that her father gave her.

Since she has no problem with his occupation, Kevin heads off with his partner-in-crime, Berger (JOHN LEGUIZAMO), to knock off a presumably unoccupied house owned by Max Fairbanks (DANNY DeVITO), a ruthless, Boston billionaire who isn't supposed to be in the home due to a bankruptcy ruling. He is there, however, with Tracey Kimberly (SASCHA KNOPF), a.k.a. Miss September, his latest in a series of flings he's carried out behind the back of his upper crust wife, Lutetia (NORA DUNN), that have also included Gloria (GLENNE HEADLY), his personal assistant, sometime in the past.

Accordingly, Max catches Kevin in the act and after the police arrive, he decides to claim that the ring Amber gave Kevin is actually his. The police obviously believe Max, but Kevin escapes from them on the way to jail and decides he can't let the billionaire get away with robbing him, especially when he's ribbed by Uncle Jack (BERNIE MAC), the man who raised him and serves as his loot launderer. Thus, he and Berger enlist the aid of Shelly Nix (GQ), a computer hacker who quickly tracks Max's every move and intercepts every communication.

As Kevin repeatedly breaks into Max's homes and attempts to steal back his ring, the billionaire enlists the aid of his head of security, Earl Radburn (LARRY MILLER), to catch the thief, much to the chagrin of Max's longtime lawyer, Walter Greenbaum (RICHARD SCHIFF). With foppish detective Alex Tardio (WILLIAM FICHTNER) arriving on the scene and believing that Max and Kevin are involved in an insurance scam, the two men continue in their battle over possession of the ring.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of Lawrence or anyone else in the cast, they just might.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For language and sexual content.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: MARTIN LAWRENCE plays a professional thief who becomes perturbed when Max steals a ring that Amber just gave him. From that point on, and with the help of Berger and others, he sets out to steal the ring back through any means (all criminal) possible. He also uses brief strong profanity, has sex with Amber on their first date and then has her move in with him.
DANNY DeVITO plays a ruthless and conniving billionaire businessman who becomes equally perturbed at Kevin for repeatedly attempting to rob his place and retrieve that ring. He also uses profanity and has or has had affairs.
JOHN LEGUIZAMO plays Kevin's wisecracking criminal partner who assists him on their various break-ins and uses some profanity.
GLENNE HEADLY plays Max's lovelorn assistant and former lover.
CARMEN EJOGO plays Kevin's girlfriend who moves in with him after having sex on their first date and doesn't seem to mind or care that he's a professional criminal.
BERNIE MAC plays Kevin's "uncle" who launders the various items that Kevin steals. He smokes cigars and uses some profanity.
LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; DANNY DeVITO plays a ruthless and conniving billionaire businessman who becomes equally perturbed at Kevin for repeatedly attempting to rob his place and retrieve that ring. He also uses profanity and has or has had affairs.
JOHN LEGUIZAMO plays Kevin's wisecracking criminal partner who assists him on their various break-ins and uses some profanity.
GLENNE HEADLY plays Max's lovelorn assistant and former lover.
CARMEN EJOGO plays Kevin's girlfriend who moves in with him after having sex on their first date and doesn't seem to mind or care that he's a professional criminal.
BERNIE MAC plays Kevin's "uncle" who launders the various items that Kevin steals. He smokes cigars and uses some profanity.
LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; JOHN LEGUIZAMO plays Kevin's wisecracking criminal partner who assists him on their various break-ins and uses some profanity.
GLENNE HEADLY plays Max's lovelorn assistant and former lover.
CARMEN EJOGO plays Kevin's girlfriend who moves in with him after having sex on their first date and doesn't seem to mind or care that he's a professional criminal.
BERNIE MAC plays Kevin's "uncle" who launders the various items that Kevin steals. He smokes cigars and uses some profanity.
LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; GLENNE HEADLY plays Max's lovelorn assistant and former lover.
CARMEN EJOGO plays Kevin's girlfriend who moves in with him after having sex on their first date and doesn't seem to mind or care that he's a professional criminal.
BERNIE MAC plays Kevin's "uncle" who launders the various items that Kevin steals. He smokes cigars and uses some profanity.
LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; CARMEN EJOGO plays Kevin's girlfriend who moves in with him after having sex on their first date and doesn't seem to mind or care that he's a professional criminal.
BERNIE MAC plays Kevin's "uncle" who launders the various items that Kevin steals. He smokes cigars and uses some profanity.
LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; BERNIE MAC plays Kevin's "uncle" who launders the various items that Kevin steals. He smokes cigars and uses some profanity.
LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; LARRY MILLER plays Max's head of security who's gung-ho about catching Kevin.
NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; NORA DUNN plays Max's upper class and somewhat icy wife who sticks with him despite his various unsavory ways.
RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; RICHARD SCHIFF plays Max's lawyer who becomes fed up with his client's behavior.
WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; WILLIAM FICHTNER plays the foppish detective who's working the robbery cases and suspects both Max and Kevin of wrongdoing.
GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.; GQ plays a computer hacker who supplies Kevin and Berger with info about Max's whereabouts and activities.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Here's a quick look at the content found in this PG-13 rated comedy. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Some sexually related dialogue is also present, while some sexual encounters (including affairs) are implied, partially seen and/or occur off-screen. A woman is partially seen covered in bath bubbles and shows a great deal of cleavage in another scene.

Various characters drink and/or smoke, and they and others have varying degrees of bad attitudes (as does the film in making fun of the obese, Arabs and gays or using them as sources of humor). Violence consists of characters struggling with, pushing or throwing others to the floor, a woman slapping and smacking a man and a gun being fired by someone who was just sprayed in the face with Mace or something similar.

Meanwhile, various gestures and actions may be enticing for some kids to imitate, and some brief crude humor involves a dog farting. Should you still be concerned about the film's content and its appropriateness for anyone in your home, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific information.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Kevin asks Amber if she has those miniature bottles of liquor in her hotel mini-fridge.
Kevin drinks a beer while in bed with Amber.
Berger carries a beer.
Kevin takes a swig from a flask he finds in Max's place.
People have drinks at a reception where Max purposefully throws some wine on Kevin's suit.
Berger and Shelly have beer.
A miscellaneous woman drinks some wine.
We see that Kevin and Berger poured an expensive bottle of wine onto Max's carpet.
Various people have drinks on a boat.
Gloria has what looks like a martini.
We see a drink by Max's hand as he sleeps.
People have champagne at an auction.
Berger has some champagne.

BLOOD/GORE: We hear one of Tardio's poodles farting (several times) and see Kevin's reaction to the smell.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Seeing Kevin, who's black, at a fancy art auction, a white woman tells him that the sports memorabilia auction is the following week (assuming he was wanting that due to his skin color).
Some viewers may take offense to a scene where the humor comes from Kevin trying to get by a seated obese man at an auction. Moments later, Kevin - trying to get Amber to laugh - blows up his cheeks to make himself look fat in the face.
Kevin and Berger have both for being professional thieves, Uncle Jack has the same for laundering their booty, and Amber doesn't seem to care or mind that Kevin is a thief as she becomes his girlfriend.
Max has both for cheating on his wife (with many different women over the years including Gloria) and being a ruthless businessman who's bribed others to get his way. He also acts belligerent and/or condescending toward anyone who's in his way of whatever he's trying to accomplish at any given moment.
Shelly is a computer hacker who hacks into Max's personal information to assist Kevin and Berger in their criminal plans.
Those who object to the occult may not like scenes where Gloria or Max use tarot cards to read his future.
A miscellaneous character and his wife bring their kids along during their criminal activities.
Some viewers may be offended by a scene where Kevin and Berger act like they're Arabic (with towels around their heads and jabbering in a faked, stereotypical sounding Arabic accent). Berger also states that he should be driving a cab based on how he looks dressed that way. The same holds true for the portrayal of a foppish detective who's a stereotypically flamboyant gay person.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: None.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handgun: Held by Max on Kevin.
Handguns: Carried by police as they search for Kevin who's just escaped from their custody.
Sword: Briefly carried by Kevin as he anticipates running into Max (which doesn't occur).
Handgun: Carried by Earl and later used to fire at someone (he also reads a magazine that has a gun on its cover).
A tarot card shows a character with several knives in his head (but isn't graphic).

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Shut the f*ck up," "Piece of sh*t," "Eat sh*t," "Sh*tbox," "Holy sh*t," "Oh, sh*t," "Bullsh*t," "Screw it," "Screw everybody," "What's your name, bro?" "Balls" (testicles), "Hell, yeah," "Shut up," "Screw you," "What the hell /was that/did you do that for/are you doing here?" "Who the hell..." "Piss ant," "His ass is going down," "Up yours, you fat pig," "Where the hell is he?" "Fat ass," "Freak out," "Lard ass," "You idiot," "Moron," "Let's get the hell out of here," "Scum bucket," "(Horny little) Bastard," "Little putz," "You're a jerk," "Nuts" (crazy), "Cut the crap," "Buzz off," "Scum bags," "Pissed," "Your ass is mine" and "Talk out of my ass."
Some kids may want to imitate all of the goofy stuff that Kevin does, including dancing around with his butt sticking out (clothed), and doing all sorts of facial mugging.
Max calls Kevin (who's black), "bro."
We see that Kevin and Berger poured an expensive bottle of wine onto Max's carpet.
Tardio acts like a flamboyant fop.
A sign language interpreter gives "the finger" while signing for what Max is saying during a Senate hearing. We then see Max giving "the finger" to the camera (for Kevin). Later, Kevin does the same to Max.
A sign language interpreter makes a gesture for oral sex while signing for what Max is saying during a Senate hearing (as we hear him say, "Suck my..." with the last part bleeped out). Later, she makes a gesture for male masturbation while signing for what Kevin is saying about "jerk you all off" (said in a nonsexual context).

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): None.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A few rap songs had lyrics that couldn't be understood, thus offering the potential of them containing some objectionable material.

PROFANITY: At least 1 "f" word (with another 8 or so bleeped out), 16 "s" words (1 that's written), 3 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck" and "p*cker" with another related word bleeped out), 1 slang term for breasts ("t*tties"), 1 slang term for sex ("nail"), 26 damns, 24 asses (5 used with "hole"), 17 hells, 8 S.O.B.s (with another incomplete one), 3 craps, 8 uses of "G-damn," 2 each of "God" and "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "Jesus," "My God" and "Swear to God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: A classic art sculpture shows female full frontal nudity and another shows female bare breasts.
Amber asks Kevin if he's trying to sleep with her (he says that he isn't).
We see Kevin and Amber in bed after they've had sex (with her head on his chest and they're under the covers) after just meeting (we see her bare shoulders and back with the rest of her under the covers).
While discussing Amber with Jack, Kevin states that with his last girlfriend it was just about sex, but that with Amber it's still about sex, but that they also talk. Later, Berger states that Amber has a "nice ass."
Max looks through a Playhouse magazine (a porno publication, but we don't see anything) while Miss September sits in a bubble bath (we see some of her cleavage as she reminds him that she's naked). She then comments on him saying something "once we did it" (had sex).
When Max confronts Kevin at gunpoint for breaking into his house, the above woman walks up covered in just bubbles (although we don't see a full shot of her, we see parts of both her breasts and bare butt).
We see a flashback to Max and Gloria in an elevator presumably having sex (we see him - from the back up and clothed -- standing in front of her and both are calling out the other's name).
Lutetia asks Max, "What the hell were you doing in the beach house and who the hell were you doing it with?"
Max wants (or acts like he wants) to be amorous with Lutetia, but she acts like a cold fish to him. He then says that something will be first and "p*cker" will be later (referring to sex).
Seeing Kevin in a fancy suit, Amber playfully tells him to come over to her so that they can mess it up. We then see him jumping toward her, but the scene ends there.
Kevin comments about a woman (from an above scene) having bit, soapy "t*tties." Max then says that he's mad at Kevin because he was trying to "nail" Miss September when Kevin interrupted him.
Max reminds a judge that he (Max) spread stories about the sexual preferences of the judge's opponent.
Tracey shows a great deal of cleavage as she's bending over while giving Max a massage. Perturbed by his attitude, she then tells him that the sex (between them) was like sleeping with a sheep.
While interpreting for Kevin as both act like they're Arabic, it sounds like Kevin tells a woman that Kevin said he'd like to "hump" her, but doesn't have the time.
As Earl prepares to stop Kevin and Berger (while holding his gun), it sounds like he excitedly says, "God, I'm hard."
A sign language interpreter makes a gesture for oral sex while signing for what Max is saying during a Senate hearing (as we hear him say, "Suck my..." with the last part bleeped out).
Talking about Max and Kevin's struggle over the ring, Amber tells Kevin that it's nothing but a "d*ck measuring contest." He then states that if that were true, he'd win (as he puts his hand down toward his knee and mentions "elephant trunk" as a humorous reference to his size).
Lutetia shows some cleavage.
After Gloria reprimands him, Max tells her that no one talks to him like that, and that it "turns me on." He briefly gets on top of her and she calls him a "horny little bastard" and then pushes him off onto the floor. Moments later, Max asks for Earl's hand to help him off the floor, but Earl misinterprets that as an offer to join him there (some homosexual humor as Earl says that he's thought about this too).
Max repeatedly stares at the butt of a masseuse as she's bent over while standing (clothed).
A sign language interpreter makes a gesture for male masturbation while signing for what Kevin is saying about "jerk you all off" (said in a nonsexual context).
Acting like a lawyer, Kevin states that he has a very big "pro bono" (causing Jack to say it runs in the family).

SMOKING: Uncle Jack smokes cigars more than 5 times, Max smokes around 4 times (with Gloria starting one for him by briefly smoking it) and a minor character also smokes.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: A husband and wife fight in front of their kids (while preparing to deactivate an alarm system and thus free Berger and Kevin), but the kids don't seem too upset about any of that.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: The fact that both Kevin and Max get away with their bad and/or criminal behavior.
Why Amber doesn't seem to mind that Kevin is a professional thief.
Amber and Kevin sleeping together after just having met and her then moving in with him.
Gloria and Max use tarot cards to read his future.
Why Tardio dresses and acts like a fop.

VIOLENCE: Kevin lands hard on the street when he jumps from a police car window.
Max hits a tennis ball that strikes his older opponent in the crotch, doubling him over.
Kevin briefly struggles with Max while trying to get his ring back. After Max throws some wine on him, Kevin tries to elude some guards, one of which he throws to the floor before escaping.
Kevin and Berger end up falling down a flight of stairs.
One of Max's lovers smacks and then slaps him on the head after he insults her.
Encountering Earl holding a gun, a tenant sprays Mace (or something similar) into Earl's eyes, and then does the same to some police who show up. Partially blinded, Earl makes his way into Max's penthouse where he hears a sound (Max) and fires several shots through a window (no one is hurt).
Kevin opens a door and knocks Max to the ground. He then struggles with Max over the ring, while Max grabs and trips Berger with an umbrella.
Gloria pushes Max off her and onto the floor.
We see various servers bound and gag in the back of a delivery truck.
Max and Kevin struggle in a boat that hits a buoy and then begins to sink.

Reviewed May 29, 2001 / Posted June 1, 2001

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