Movie Reviews

David Lee/Universal

Review in a Hurry:  Martin Lawrence plops down in a parallel universe—in the company of actors like James Earl Jones and Michael Clarke Duncan, the kinds of fine thespians who rarely get within a 50-foot radius of the harebrained comic. But nothing, not even the voice of Darth Vadar himself, can save this family comedy from a too-silly script.

The Bigger Picture:  R.J. Stevens, né Roscoe Jenkins (Lawrence), is a famous talk-show host who's too big for his britches to keep in touch with his southern roots. When he reluctantly drags his son and bitchy fiancée Bianca (Joy Bryant, laying it on a little thick) to a family reunion, all hell breaks loose. Instead of being in awe of his success, this motley crew gives him a big dose of keepin' it real.

The "very special" life lessons that ensue are broadly sketched out for the densest of audience members to understand, but that's not Roscoe Jenkins' biggest problem. One would think that when high-energy, high-pedigreed performers like these collide, the resulting boisterous comedy and down-home sentimentality would be enough to keep the movie chugging along.

Unfortunately writer and director Malcolm D. Lee pushes aside these dynamics to make room for an endless string of stupid slapstick. The talents of Jones, Duncan, Mo'Nique and especially Mike Epps as R.J.'s hustler cousin Reggie, are left to rot for the sake of age-old pranks like inter-breed dog lovin' and skunk attacks.

In the rare moments when the ensemble just gets to hang out and act like a family, you see what the movie could have been—a bawdy, not brainless, comedy about all the complications of being part of a big brood.

Instead, we get skunks.

The 180—a Second Opinion:  When these fine performers are left to shine, they shine bright. Epps as Reggie steals a few scenes with hilariously outrageous antics, and Mo'Nique has a few moments, too. The only bad thing about their presence is that they make an amiable but lackluster Lawrence look bad.