All About the Benjamins

Plot synopsis:
Tyson Bucum (Ice Cube), a maverick bounty hunter, is out to capture a petty drug dealer, Lil J (Anthony Michael Hall). Bucum confronts Lil J in his trailer home and nearly handcuffs him, but Lil J's girlfriend, who wields a shotgun, recklessly shoots at Bucum. Bucum manages to tackle Lil J's girlfriend and arrest Lil J. Bucum's boss Martinez (Anthony Giaimo), however, is not pleased with Bucum and pays him less than expected. After a brief conversation about the lottery with his attractive co-worker Pam (Valerie Rae Miller), Bucum learns from Martinez that he must capture a con man named Reggie Wright (Mike Epps), whom Bucum has captured three times prior.
Bucum sees Reggie at a convenience store but fails to catch him after a long chase through Miami. Meanwhile, during a photoshoot, diamond thieves Julian (Roger Guenveur Smith) and Ursula (Carmen Chaplin) are posing as a photographer and model until a Mr. Barkley arrives. The duo murder the co-photographer, the makeup artist and Barkley's bodyguards, much to Barkley's surprise. Barkley is then shot in the head after a brief dialogue with Julian for murdering the witnesses. They then retrieve diamonds from the shoot. Bucum tracks down Reggie again and chases him until he remains unnoticed since he is hidden in a van. The thieves comes down, upon running into him instantly by accident, shoots at Bucum, who shoots back in response, and escapes, unbeknownst to them that Reggie is hidden. In a boatyard, the thieves finds Reggie in the van and shoot at him when he escapes, leaving his wallet behind, which is picked up by Juilian. At the crime scene, Martinez is fed up of Bucum's attempts and orders him to stay away from Reggie.
In Reggie's apartment, Reggie and his girlfriend Gina (Eva Mendes) eventually win the lottery, only to find out that Reggie lost the latter, which was in Reggie's wallet. In the boatyard, Julian and Ursula are yelled at by their boss Williamson (Tommy Flanagan), having told him that the diamonds they retrieved from the shoot were fake. Out of frustration of not getting the diamonds, Williamson responds by shooting Julian in the arm, severely wounding him, which is later enclosed in an arm brace. Reggie is soon captured by Bucum during an attempt to retrieve his wallet and while in the car, Reggie manages to convince Bucum to find his wallet and find the thieves. At the boatyard, Bucum and Reggie realizes that the van is unclear of its location, so Bucum tries to look into the connection of the photo shoot and the van, while Reggie is handcuffed to his bed with Gina. Julian, in a psychopathic state, goes after Reggie. He arrives at the apartment, and is knocked unconscious by Bucum, having anticipated him coming after Reggie. The duo then decides to torture Julian into answers by pending a screwdriver into Julian's arm brace, which can rip through his skin. Julian then reveals Williamson's name. Bucum awaits in the boatyard of Williamson's boat dealership and poses as a customer. This soon fails, so the duo decides to go to the Barkley residence. At the house, they find a dead Mrs. Barkley, a man named Roscoe who was the one who murdered Mrs. Barkley, and attacks Bucum (only to be knocked out by Reggie), eventually finding the diamonds in a fish tank. They return to Bucum's apartment and discover that Williamson has kidnapped Gina.
In response, they roll a car into Williamson's boat dealership with Julian and Roscoe, tied up and gagged in the trunk. Willamson finds a tape recorder that informs him to meet Reggie and Bucum at a dog track with Gina to exchange for the diamonds. This goes successful with Pam posing as a janitor, Reggie revealing the diamonds, and Bucum taking position as sniper in a dog tracksman disguise to take out a sniper working for Williamson until Reggie flips the diamonds off of Williamson's hands leading to a shootout and chase. During the chase, Williamson pulls out a bazooka and opens fire, missing Bucum, Reggie, Gina and Pam but instead blowing up a nearby fish truck. He escapes, and Bucum and Reggie are so fed up with the plan that they decide to break up their partnership . Pam convinces Bucum to talk to Reggie and they make up again. The duo tracks Williamson to a boat dock in which Gina and Pam await behind them in the car. Bucum gives Reggie a taser since Reggie accidentally dropped one of Bucum's guns into the ocean. On the boat, as Bucum leaves, he sees Pam and Gina running away, having knocked out two henchman by pushing a lifeboat in their direction. Meanwhile, Reggie finds his wallet and recovers the lottery ticket, but is soon caught by Williamson and Ursula and he even forces Reggie to take his money on the boat. Bucum, taking Ursula as a hostage, catches up with them. Williamson, in response, kills Ursula by shooting her in the head and wounds Reggie, leading to a fight as the boat speeds up. Williamson is knocked out by the boat's speed and the boat crashes onto shore. Bucum and Reggie reunite until Williamson, badly injured, attacks Bucum. Reggie tases him and Bucum shoots Williamson to death multiple times. Later, Bucum and Reggie are figuring out what to do next but the coast guards are coming, and Bucum is forced to handcuff Reggie and hide the money.
Six weeks later, Reggie is released from prison, and Bucum, who has a new car and spending money along with Gina and Pam, shows Reggie the ticket. The film ends as the quarter, along with two elderly con associates of Reggie, skiing on the boat through the ocean.

Tags: violence, humor, comedy

Review:
Ice Cube is always good at his characters.
Ice Cube plays a similar character that he does in most of his films, the hard ass smart ass, but it works well with his role.
They both have pretty good comedic performances which along side the action directing makes a decent/ tolerable action comedy.Its not a fantastic film by any means, and though I said they had good comedic performances, the acting wasn't that great.
The directing and writing is also nothing special, it works here, but that's about all you can say about itAll about the Benjamins is a pretty average and predictable action comedy but it was fun and funny.
If you are a fan of Next Friday and Friday After Next, you will probably enjoy this "fourth installment." It's very similar in style and definitely similar performances by Cube and Epps.
Though it may appear as a Friday style film, All About the Benjamins is far from the comedy franchise as possible.
Instead of being a slacker, buddy comedy, it's an action cop film similar to 48 Hours or Beverly Hills Cop. It isn't necessarily bad, but it takes a path I didn't expect.
It's in a four pack that includes all Ice Cube movies, and it stars Mike Epps as well.
It's kind of tilting on the edge.Bucum (Cube) is a bounty hunter who's goal is to get money to open his own investigation firm.
After winning big on the lottery, but losing the ticket in the back of a van with diamonds thieves, Bucum and Reggie have no choice but to work together to get the thieves and retrieve the lottery ticket so Reggie can claim his riches.It reminds me of a film I watched not too long ago called Lottery Ticket that also stars Cube, about a young man trying to survive a weekend with a $370 million lottery ticket the whole neighborhood is aware of.
Ice Cube and Mike Epps made a great duo in Next Friday and Friday After Next, and had numerous dialog scenes in the film that were utterly hilarious and clever.
This film relies too much on action movie clichés, and a drawn out plot.
I'm grading on behalf of the film's plot, characters action scenes, and suspense.
But so decent they were forgettable.Starring: Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Eva Mendes, Tommy Flanagan, Carmen Chaplin, Valarie Rae Miller, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Anthony Michael Hall.
This was a another great partnership of Mike Epps and Ice Cube.
Ice Cube has certainly come a long way and is proving to be a very versatile actor.
I am becoming more and more a fan of Ice Cube's movies, he is really not a bad writer or a director.
My game ball for best acting goes to Eva Mendes who played Epps' character's girlfriend Gina who wins the lottery at the beginning of the movie.
Unfortunately for her, Reggie (Mike Epps) loses the ticket while being chased by Bucum (Ice Cube).
It becomes kind of a running "gag" thorough the movie that he is always looking for his missing lottery ticket.
I heard ahead of time that Tommy Flanagan was supposed to play a different kind of tougher villain from Ice Cube, but frankly I was not impressed.
But last night I watched from a more critical stance than usual and found some flaws in this movie that I thought was very good.
First of all, I love Ice Cube and what he's done with his career and how he branched off from music to movies.
At times his jokes can fall flat, but the hilarity of his funny moments make up for the missteps.I watched 'All About the Benjamins' last night and I was in stitches laughing at the shower torture scene.
Oddly enough, it wasn't Ice Cube, Mike Epps, or even the torture that I found funny.
When he mouthed off at Mike Epps' character (Reggie) I was rolling all over the place uncontrollably.
I was never bored and I will watch this movie many more times in the future.
Ice Cube should employ better writers in the future.
Half the time when I don't expect much from a movie, I become oddly surprised as it turns out to be much better than I assumed.
But the other half of the time, I'm exactly right and the movie turns out to be just as bad as I assumed.
Prior to watching the film, I wasn't aware that Ice Cube co-wrote the script.
Sure, I liked the first two "Friday" movies, but they're simply guilty pleasures.
Rappers can barely write comedies; they sure as hell can't write action movies!
You watch Eddie Murphy's invasion of the redneck bar in "48 Hours" and you compare it to any of the low-brow antics Epps pulls off in this movie, and THEN look into my eyes and tell me he's the next Eddie Murphy!
Murphy's mouth is ten times filthier than his, but his humor is often at least somewhat intelligent (if you watch the films of his hayday like "Coming to America" and "48 Hours," and not some of his lame recent work like "I Spy" and "Showtime").
These movies are making us think that only low-brow comedies like this can make black people laugh.
After sitting through "All About the Benjamins" it's a real enjoyable action/comedy.
This is the story of a bounty hunter (Ice Cube, who also co-wrote with first-time screenwriter Ron Lang and co-produced) who's on the pursuit of a bail jumper ("Next Friday" co-star Mike Epps) and their footchase ends up at drop-off for a major diamond where the killers left a few dead bodies in the process.
And, Epps, is real hilarious in this movie.
And, Ice Cube shows a lot more comedic talents than he did in the last two "Fridays".
I feel that this is one of the most plot-driven movies Ice Cube has done since "Players Club".
And, if you look hard at "All About the Benjamins" it's not just an Ice Cube movie.
This fish out of water story is been done too many times but it works thanks to Cube's and Epps' performances..
A professional bounty hunter (Ice Cube) is in the search of a two-bit hustler (Mike Epps).
The bounty hunter and the hustler are mixed up with a diamond heist, a lost winning lottery ticket and one thing become clear...
The film's has an familiar storytelling but if it wasn't for Cube's and Epps' likable performances, the film would have been a real mess.DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an strong DTS 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound).
The film has an fine music score by John Murphy (28 Days Later) and an good looking cinematography work by Glen MacPherson (Exit Wounds, Romeo Must Die, Walking Tall-2004).
It is worth seeing, especially if you are a fan of Cube's or Epps' films.
It is better then the previous releases, but it is just another weak movie with a lot of shootings, stolen diamonds, super bounty hunters, stolen money and one or two good looking women taking very important roles.
Tyson Bucum (Ice Cube) is a Miami independent bounty hunter.
His next job is con man Reggie Wright (Mike Epps) whom he caught three times before already.
Then to his horror, Reggie finds his winning lottery ticket for the $60 million jackpot is lost with his wallet.This tries to be a mad-cap irreverent wild action caper.
I love Ice Cube and Mike Epps is fun sometimes.
It's an action film with a few shots of comedy that actually delivers where it counts.
Ice Cube plays it pretty straight here (like all of his other movies, but that's why we love him), and Mike Epps seems to be channeling Chris Tucker.
I liked Friday and Next Friday, they had an ok story with some comedy thrown in, but this movie blows them away.If you haven't seen this movie and you're trying to pick out something good to rent, get this one for sure..
"All About the Benjamins" is a fast and loose action/comedy caper about a bounty hunter (Ice Cube, who also co-wrote the script with Ron Lang and co-produced) who's on the trail of his latest bail jumper (Mike Epps) and their chase ends up at a drop-off for a diamond heist where a dead bodies pop up in the process.
Ice Cube does a better comedic performance than he has done in the last two "Fridays" and is becoming a better leading man.
"All About the Benjamins" in a very offbeat but good action/comedy and is one of the most must-see movies of the spring..
It overextends its constricted script with excessive amounts of strained comedy and hackneyed action, and as a result it winds up sacrificing the proverbial feet of efficient storytelling and character development.Ice Cube (who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Lang) is Bucum Jackson, a Miami bounty hunter who hopes to someday open his own private investigation agency.
(In the meantime, he complains about his low-paying assignments while buying $600 tropical fish.) One of his menial jobs includes relentlessly chasing con man Reggie Wright (Mike Epps).
It fails as a comedy, a buddy movie, and an action thriller, and it most definitely fails as quality entertainment, relying heavily on endless chase scenes, Epps' grating slapstick routine, and Cube's scowling facade in order to conceal the numerous absurdities and lack of suspense in the plot.
Ice Cube has nothing to do here except stare angrily at Epps' overacting in between knocking a few heads.
Meanwhile, Bucum's accomplice Pam (Valarie Rae Miller) and Reggie's girlfriend Gina (Eva Mendes) are unfortunately nothing more than armpieces in skimpy outfits who spend time looking offended at their partners' actions.It's appropriate that a boat storage warehouse plays a significant role in this movie that ends up sinking in an ocean of implausibility.
(It also spawns the film's only line that contains a shred of humor: "You bite my nipple again and I'll kill you!")"Benjamins' " greatest sin, however, is that it's a blatant insult to viewers' intelligence that's encased in a box of cheap laughs, due to the fact that it tries to make heroes out of two greedy individuals who commit murder, assault, burglary, and wrongful imprisonment, among other things, in their pursuit of stolen diamonds that don't even belong to them in the first place - and then treats their mission as if they're participating in some great cause.
Even worse, the filmmakers shamelessly want us to empathize with these guys during an obligatory moment in which they spill their deepest feelings to each other during a lull in the action.One of the worst films of the year, "All About the Benjamins" will appeal to those who have an affinity for movies with appalling storylines chock full of abysmal dialogue and repugnant characters.
Do not give it your undivided attention, because it doesn't deserve it.It seems like everyone realized they weren't making a very good movie and phoned it in accordingly.
No one, even the normally enjoyable Ice Cube, ever breaks a sweat trying to get this movie off the ground.If you held this flick up to your ear, you'd hear the ocean.
To be fair, Ice Cube has done the best he could with All About the Benjamins.
Not as funny as you'd think, especially from the constant annoyance from Epps, but the movie provides basic entertainment and accomplishes it's goal- obscene, action comedy for a weekend afternoon.
It isn't funny at any point, the characters are paper thin, and largely doesn't have a point.Ice Cube and Mike Epps don't really do much as a comedy duo in this movie, it seems that they worked well in the Friday 2 and 3 but just kind of phoned it in for this one.
This would be probably be a 3 star rating from me if I didn't like Ice Cube and Mike Epps.
Ice cube is a VERY bad actor, well all of the actors of this movie are bad.
only instead of people with huge afros going on about "jive turkeys" we hear from people with cornrows (Ice Cube's wearing really bad extentions in this flop) bouncing around saying things like "bling bling" and it's well..."all about the bengamins".
mike epps once again plays the loud mouth "brotha" from the streets who's a con man...suprised.
Great action film with load of comedy.
Ice Cube in the lead role proves his action star status and his writing talent(he co-wrote the sciprt.) Mike Epps in the second lead continues to make a name for himself as a very funny comic and sidekick.
Kevin Bray who has directed videos for N'Sync , 112 and Jagged Edge makes a good debut with this fun, upbeat action comedy.
Ice Cube is pretty good.
Ice Cube is entertaining in this movie.
Ice Cube is a bounty hunter out to get his man for some money, while the guy he's after just won the lottery.
One of the funnier scenes is in the beginning when Ice Cube uses a shock gun on a guy in a place you wouldn't want it to be used!
Mike Epps was believably upset when he loses his ticket or gets arrested by Ice Cube.
I am not a huge fan of Ice Cube anymore but I have to say that his acting in this movie was better than his performance in say, Anaconda.
This movie was A LOT better than I would have expected.
He plays the perfect straight man to a very Very funny Mike Epps.
The story sucked, ice cube...predictable, Flanagan, a real man raised in the streets of Glasgow, and that is where he get is his intensity..
Frankly I am getting really sick of all these predictable bad boy movies.
The same old bad guys are getting as predictable as the films they appear in, Yea we all love Al Pacino but audition this Flanagan in a modern version Scare face and he might just shock you.
This mismatched buddy movie is every bit as fast, funny and action packed as its triler suggested and prooves that money is really the root of all evil.
Ice Cube again solidifies himself as the best muscian turned actor as Bucum, a bounty hunter who will do anything to make a quick buck, but gets more than he bargained for when he is sent to bring in Reggie (Mike Epps), a low life street hustler who accidently gets involved with a bunch of blood thirsty diamond crooks who almost kill BUcum while he is looking for Reggie.
Epps is generally goofy and reminds me a lot like Eddie Murphy or Chris Tucker, while still being undeniably hilarious but it is Cube who is the master of his own game as he gives a greatly mastered comedic performance.
For everyone who couldn't get enough of Money Talks and loved Next Friday, this movie delivers just what the doctor ordered..
this movie was not as good as expected.
why ice cube would do another movie with mike epps is baffling to me.
Not Flanagan's best nor Ice Cube's.
Could have been funnier if more effort was spent on "comedy" but definately doesn't qualify as an action film.
Co-written, co-produced and starring  Ice Cube.
Ice Cube is the best thing about Ghosts of Mars and he owns Friday and Next Friday.
Here, he's a bounty hunter in Miami whose prey loses a winning lottery ticket in the middle of a diamond theft by an evil criminal mastermind.Michael Epps (Omar's brother maybe?) is quite good.
The ending however was a little too The Whole Nine Yards for me.Great action sequences, nasty villains and good guys to root for.
Cube and Epps make terrific team.
Ice Cube has definitely flipped the script.
"All About The Benjamins" isn't a great movie by any means, but it validates tomorrow's newest duo - Cube and Epps.
When Mike Epps teamed with the Cube on "Next Friday", I thought it was gimmicky.
I enjoyed this film about a bounty hunter (Ice T) who chases a con man who keeps eluding him.
When the con man wins the mega lottery and then loses his ticket (in the boat of a nasty villain) he tries to enlist the aid of Ice T to get it back.
Unfortunately for him, Ice T does not believe him about the ticket and is not only interested in collecting the bounty for the con man and also recovering several million in diamonds that a bad guy has.Eventually, Ice T starts to believe the con man and they somewhat work together but Ice T maintains a short leash on him until he can beat the villain and get the diamonds.There are some really hilarious scenes and both Ice T and the con man put in excellent performances.An overlooked gem that is as good as any of the Lethal Weapon films!.
First off, there is no one in the movie named Benjamin.
The opening scene is Ice Cube, as a bounty hunter (Bukum, pronounced Book-em), going into a red neck trailer park to capture his bounty.
As it turns out this is an NRA trailer park and Ice Cube is shot at by the yahoo's girlfriend (foot is in a cast) as well as some old lady next door.
The secretary at the bail bond's place wants to be Ice Cube's partner, although he would rather go alone.
During the chase Epps and Bukum end up at a murder scene over some diamonds.
Now to make this more interesting it seems Epps has a winning lottery ticket worth $60 million, but through a series of events it ends up in the hands of the murderers.
Ice Cube is leery about Epps' story and uses him to go after the murderers.The movie is funny and keeps moving.
The character of Epps as a talkative, cowardly, pretending to be brave con artist compliments the series role of Ice Cube.