Released: February 8th, 2008
Runtime: 1 hr. 54 min.
Ticket Price: $7.50 Matinee
Refreshments: Gummy Bears
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Cedric the Entertainer, Joy Bryant, Nicole Ari Parker, Mo’Nique, Michael Clark Duncan, Mike Epps, Margaret Avery & James Earl Jones
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Rating: Worth an Early Matinee
Synopsis: A guy who was the brunt of jokes as a kid, but is now a successful talk-show host, is returning home for his parents anniversary. Nothing ever seemed to workout for him as a kid. Now, he wants to show his family and everyone else back home that he is not the scrawny kid that used to get beat by his cousin at everything. Things don’t go as he had planned upon returning home and having to deal with his relatives.
Review: Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is a slightly above average comedy with bits of family drama thrown in. Yet, there is nothing here you haven’t seen before. That isn’t always a bad thing, if it is exceptionally well done or packaged in a new way. For the most part though, that is not the case here.
Too much of the comedy dwells upon mismatched dog sex, getting sprayed by a skunk, and the free-swinging joke stylings of Mike Epps (The Honeymooners, Next Friday). Of course he hits one out of the park occasionally, but strikes out way more often than he ever makes contact. Yet, while the comedy can push the taste boundaries, there are plenty of laughs throughout. Many of which, actually didn’t appear in the trailer or commercials.
For a movie that is almost two hours long, they zip you right through introducing you to Martin Lawrence’s (Big Momma’s House, Bad Boys) successful talk show host and his beautiful Survivor winning fiancée, with an Access Hollywood profile about their recent engagement. This seems to be a movie and TV staple, as a similar type intro was used on last night’s series premiere of Lipstick Jungle on NBC. Wish sometimes that they would take a little more time with the intros, instead of rushing into the main story so quickly.
Overall, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is a decent time at the theater. Although, after the last week’s trek into the Strange Wilderness, almost anything would probably seem that way. Oh, and when the credits start to roll, don’t rush out, as there is still a little fun to be had.
What did you think of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins?
