Roland E. Zwick The misbegotten comedy "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" features Martin Lawrence as a "Trash-TV" talk show host who, against his better judgment, attends a family get-together commemorating the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents (played by James Earl Jones and Margeret Avery, who are both way too classy for this enterprise). Roscoe's return leads to a seemingly endless series of conflicts and petty competitions between the citified prodigal son and his country bumpkin relatives still living back home.The performances are fun and lively - particularly by Mo'Nique, who steals the show as Roscoe's loudmouth, up-in-everybody's-grill sister - but the threadbare script, filled as it is with predictable slapstick and cloying sentimentality, rarely makes us laugh. The movie probably would have been better had it dispensed with the family reunion concept altogether and, instead, focused on satirizing Jenkins' day job. As it is, there's really nothing in Roscoe's attitude and demeanor to suggest that he has anything in common with the Jerry Springers of the world. And without that angle to distinguish the movie from every other run-of-the-mill family comedy of recent vintage, any possible interest the film might have generated dies aborning.Well worth skipping.

jandersonpwco If those people commenting that this is "one of Martin Lawrence's best performances", are accurate, I can only thank God that I had the wisdom not to see any of his other movies. We watched this movie at the recommendation of my girlfriend's 10 year old son. Maybe if you are 10 years old or have the mental capacity of a 10 year old, you will like this movie, but I cannot imagine anyone with half a functioning brain finding this film humorous.The characters are so predictable and stereotyped that they make Amos and Andy look complimentary of the African American race. If the filmmakers are going to insult an entire race of people, they should at least be remotely funny while they are doing so. The jokes - if you can call them that - were predictable and unfunny. All of the actors were so over the top in representing their assigned stereotypes, they were about as subtle - and enjoyable - as a sledgehammer upside the head. Next to this cast Adam Sandler is the equivalent of Sir Lawrence Olivier. The biggest embarrassment may be James Earl Jones, more than living up to his rep as one of Hollywood's biggest movie whores. He seems as engaged in this performance as a vegetarian in a butcher shop.I came into this movie bracing myself for an awful experience and Martin Lawrence and company managed to still amaze me with how incredibly bad this movie was. It ranks up there with legendary stinkers such as "Bingo, Baby's Day Out and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry". A complete disaster.

bob-rutzel-1 Successful Talk Show Host RJ (Lawrence) is besieged to come back home for his parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary.I was skeptical, I was wary, I wasn't sure, but this time the promos didn't let me down. This was good. Since the basic theme was a grand family reunion, you know the usual obligatory things will be performed, a softball game, (with other families it may be a touch football game), an obstacle course (okay, this is a new one that I've witnessed, but there you are) and other family things, etc. Nothing new here. But, what keeps this movie fresh is the quick and lively dialogue from all the cast. It didn't feel scripted. It was like eavesdropping on the goings on and the timing, by all, was excellent. And, you know you need good timing when slap-stick comedy is performed. Also, the music throughout was perfect.This was without a doubt a cast of characters, and not your usual every day family members and each character member had his or her own shtick and this helped make this a fun movie. Joy Bryant who played Bianca must have gone to the Molly Sims School of Acting because I kept seeing and hearing Ms. Sims whenever Ms Bryant was on screen. Hey, this is a good thing, not a criticism. She was good. Nicole Ari Parker who played Lucinda is absolutely beautiful. I am sure we will see more of these two women in future movies. It is indeed rare that promos deliver when it comes to comedy, but this time they did. How about that!Violence: Yes, family fighting stuff, Sex: Yes, Dog Sex: Yes, two go at it. Nudity: No, Language: Yes, some, not much

barbadosdagny Finally! I said. A movie I can rate as not just a little, but far superior to comedies with mostly all African-American casts, including all prior formula Martin Lawrence comedies, beauty/barber shops, etc. Although it did not rise to the heights still claimed by Eddie Murphy at his best, I laughed out loud a lot -- not easy when you're always stressed out and looking for a laugh. I thought MoNique was hilarious. Those moviegoers that always get up and walk out to beat the traffic when the credits start rolling would have missed some of this movie's most hilarious scenes. I am a peaches-and-cream light-skinned older lady living for decades in a country with 95% shades of coffee-with-cream to ebony population. So while I am aware of the usually subtle, sometimes overt, discrimination between lighter and darker shades of my sisters and bros, I didn't see it in this movie or in any of the other movies referenced regarding Roscoe's decision to choose the lighter or darker-skinned girl. I'd watch it again, but then I only pay US$1.37 for a one night rental. The writer/director is to be commended for doing a lot with a small budget but what good fortune for him to assemble such a really great cast. Kudos to all. Definitely recommended.