Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008)

I wasn't expecting much with this film. I got even less. I went for a bit of colour and dash, a way to pleasantly while away a couple hours after a rough week at work. However, I can only describe this "movie" as a hideous mess. Some of the cast members are great actors of the past--- James Earl Jones, Michael Clarke Duncan, for example. What were they thinking? Did the script come to their agents written in some foreign language such as Greek or Chinese? And they, therefore, had no idea what awful dreck they had signed on for? Or are those wonderful actors desperate for some dosh?

Clichés and stereotypes are fine--- they can be the fodder for pleasant comedies and more or less worthwhile escapist entertainment. This "film", though, was not escapist, nor was it funny, nor was it pleasant. It was an ugly, dim, depressing and sloppy piece of pooh.

Imagine the makers of a Ben Stiller-type "frustration comedy" movie on Qualudes, and on a 6-year bummer to boot. That's how mean spirited this so-called comedy was. The once-great Eddie Murphy's recent disaster "Norbit" was Oscar material compared to this. Save your money, and your time, and avoid this vapid and downer of a movie. BTW--- if anyone knows Martin Lawrence's address, let me have it, so I can demand my money back.

Fmovies: I must say I wasn't too excited when my hubby said "let's go see Roscoe Jenkins". But I must also say that I am glad we did. It was very funny and entertaining. The script was not as typical as movies such as This Christmas and I actually found the plot to be defined. Yes the risks were high enough and the acting was good. The comedy was cool, forced at times, but funny most of the time. The writing was pretty cool. I did not have high expectations for this film at first and I truly do not know why because I think Martin Lawrence is very talented and funny. He always makes me laugh. I'm just tired of seeing the same script a thousand times and this script was not the same script a thousand times. The message was also good and it was a breath of fresh air to see a film about a Black Man having a meaningful relationship with their Father. It was also good to see real actors and comedians and not musicians trying to act. This made a big difference. The only thing that needed work in this movie was the cinematography. I felt as if the cinematographer was trying to sabotage the movie with extremely unnecessary shots. I could not understand how someone who has experience shooting many movies could shoot so many scenes out of FOCUS!. Overall, it is an excellent film with many funny moments. Family can definitely go and see it even though it has some riskier shots and language.

Roscoe Jenkins has taken the name "RJ Stevens" and become a self-help guru with a book and talk show based on the premise "the team of me". He heads home accompanies by his self-absorbed fiancée, Bianca, who has the idea that they should record RJ's parent's 50th anniversary celebration.

At home, RJ's family does not treat him as the important semi-celebrity he is in LA but as the child who could never defeat his cousin Clyde in any competition and as the boy still under his parents' dominion at home. Roscoe's relatives played by James Earl Jones. Margaret Avery, Cedric the Entertainer, Mo'nique and Michael Clarke Duncan are all funny and good at puncturing the bubble of Roscoe's believed importance. Eventually Roscoe learns some important lessons about the importance of family and remaining connected to them and becomes the man his father has always wanted him to be. This is a decent, somewhat funny movie so it gets a grade of C+ and a moderate recommendation.

Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins fmovies. I was really disappointed in this Movie. I usually only see movies of a more sophisticated, thought provoking quality during its first week in theaters. I was in the mood for some stress relieving comedy and after seeing the trailer, I thought this movie would do the trick. It's almost as if they went through the entire film and pulled out every funny part (believe me, they are just that few) and used them for the preview. I probably laughed only two times during the entire film. Everything else was either already shown in the preview (so it was no longer funny) or so stupid that it didn't even deserve a laugh.

This film totally lacks creativity and, with the exception of all the gross and tacky sexual references, looks as if it were written by a 4th grader (seriously). The only thing truly laughable about this film is the film itself - It's a Big Joke - and The Joke Is On Us!! (the paying viewers). Who did they think their audience would be - Cavemen!? I hate to take it to that extreme, but the script is just that simple.

I wasn't necessarily expecting it to be a great movie (I mean, it is supposed to be a comedy), but since Malcolm D. Lee wrote the Best Man (a very enjoyable film), I thought this movie would at least be worthy of my time and money. Boy, was I wrong. Lee obviously has no real friends, because if he did, they would have told him this project was a load of garbage. I'm still amazed that he was able to secure James Earl Jones' participation in this movie. I am sure he'll still make money because many people will go to see it (with false hopes of a comic relief), but for those of you reading this....I'd recommend waiting for the DVD - or better yet, why not just wait for a movie that is actually deserving of your attention. For those of you who still insist on seeing it anyway, don't say you weren't warned!

When I first went to watch this film, I thought it looked rather stupid. However, being a fan of Martin Lawrence for a long time lead me to watch it.

When it started out, it was a bit bumpy, but soon mellowed out to something more. The cast is great, the jokes are funny, and it just reminds you of a regular family. Also known as, observational comedy.

Ignore the low ratings, people expected some kind Academy Award masterpiece, but the fact is it lives up to its genre, a comedy. Everyone seems to forget that comedies are generally never rated real high, simply because people go in expecting some kind of serious performance.

African American family values movies have matured into a distinct and popular genre and, Martin Lawrence traverses familiar territory with this awkwardly-titled movie.

He plays RJ Stevens, a big city motivational guru who has taken the concept of "self-help" too far, leaving him somewhat estranged from his family in the Deep South.

In an inelegant plot device, his parents' 50th anniversary serves as an exploitable marketing opportunity sufficiently enticing to lure him back to his hometown.

From there, things unfold fairly formulaicly to RJ's rekindling of his true identity, Roscoe Steven Jenkins.

Although Lawrence is the lead around whom the story revolves, it does feel slightly like an ensemble piece. But fortunately the cast is competent and believable, even those fulfilling comic relief roles.

So as an illustration of good ol' hometown values like "always be true to yourself", "the importance of family", and the "power of forgiveness", it's a good choice for family night viewing, if you can find a way around Mo'Nique's apparent inability to avoid the B-word.