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Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins (2008) More at IMDbPro »

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14 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Going home is no vacation., 23 June 2008

Author: moviewizguy from United States

A successful talk show host leaves Los Angeles to reunite with his family in the Deep South.

By the end of this movie's trailer, you would've thought "Oh, not again." No, that's what you were thinking. Don't deny it. Even I did too. But the trailer is very misleading and I found myself liking this movie more than I was going to. A lot more.

What I loved about this movie were the characters and moral. And yes, I loved those things. Each of the characters are unique and have their own memorable moments. Also, this movie had some pretty decent jokes, much better than many other comedies released this time who use clichéd and predictable jokes.

What I also admired about this movie was the family matter and moral this movie was trying to give out. I found it oddly touching and very sweet. Unfortunately, the other jokes this movie seem to have were also predictable, gross, unfunny, and crude. Some scenes in the movie just ruin the sweets scenes before it because it felt like the filmmakers just want to make people laugh.

Like I said, the characters were memorable. The most notable were James Earl Jones, Nicole Ari Parker, and Mo'Nique. Mo'Nique, I must say, is the funniest character in here, in my opinion. She throws each joke at you and you can't have enough!

Yes, the trailers for this movie were misleading so the movie was actually quite decent. The jokes were actually funny, the characters memorable, and the moral is very touching for anyone who has a family. Sure, it had its bad moments but this is better than most comedies released this year.

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14 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
It's actually kinda fun, 26 June 2008

Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois

Last year when I saw the trailer for Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins, I wasn't expecting much, I'm not a fan by any means with Martin Lawrence. When I looked at the rating here on IMDb at the time of it's theatrical release, it was low, I wasn't sure if that's because people just had low expectations or if it really was that bad of a movie. So I decided to wait for the rental. Well I watched it the other day and honestly Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins is not as bad as I was expecting, I laughed more than a few times. I think the problem with it is that we have all seen this film before. The script is also semi-insulting with the stereotypes, so I can understand why a lot of people hate this movie, but I think everyone just needs to let go with this film while watching it. The story is typical but you have to admit there are some good laughs in it.

Roscoe Jenkins is a very successful man, he's a host of a new talk show and author of a self help book, everyone loves him pretty much, including his Survivor wanna be star fiancée, Bianca. But when his son wants to go to his family's big BBQ reunion down in Atlanta, Roscoe decides that it's time for them to meet his new fiancée and life. But what Bianca is not expecting is his crazy family that will just drive them crazy. But Roscoe sees an old crush with his "brother like" enemy, Clyde, flames spark up again, questioning what Roscoe's true roots are.

While Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins is typical, has some interesting cast members, and can be a bit insulting, I still feel like this movie really didn't mean to hurt anyone, just to have fun and deliver a few laughs. Like I said, just this movie has been done before so many times with the crazy family and you can predict what will happen at the end, but still, I enjoyed this movie and thought it was fun at best. Just the only thing I didn't get was how the whole family picked on him about his success, I mean, I'd get into his good graces to share some that fun money he must be rolling around in, lol. But I would recommend this movie, just you have to be open to it and just have fun, I guarantee you'll get a few good laughs.

5/10

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12 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
Lively and yes, funny, 23 June 2008

Author: (bob-rutzel-1) from United States

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

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13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Another perspective?, 15 February 2008

Author: laaad

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I read a lot of other comments and just wanted to offer a different perspective. Many of us have family members that are almost as embarrassing as some of those depicted in the film. While I too agree that the character "Roscoe Jenkins" was justified in his position to leave home so that he could arise above the negativity in his family environment, I also feel that the movie showed his final obligation to accept family as they are.

No matter how successful we are in our careers nothing can compare to being successful in our family relationships. In the end Roscoe and his dad realized the value of having each other and they respected each other's position for the first time.

Let's face it. When we all checkout of this life it's only family that matters. People don't normally wish for more money or fame on their dying bed. However they may regret that they didn't make the extra effort to accept family just as they are (whether you agree with them or not).

Just like the comedians that make us laugh when they share their pain, so do many laugh at movies like this because they see their own family represented to some extent. In real-life it's hard to laugh at. On film it is amazingly ridiculously funny. Just another perspective....

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10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
Expecting too much, 15 October 2008

Author: jlittle73091 from United States

Come on people, I think you were expecting too much. It was a comedy and I thought it was very funny. How were the "stereotypes" semi-insulting? I believe half of us have a relationship with someone in our family pretty close to what Roscoe had with his father, and his siblings. We live with it and accept it. Or if we can't accept it, we tell the person, (finally!) how we feel and sometimes we learn because of not communicating that we both looked at things very differently. ("I didn't know you felt that way!)Black people deal with things, especially family issues, with humor. Ease up, not Oscar material, but very funny.

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13 out of 21 people found the following comment useful :-
This MOVIE was funny... Yes, MOVIE, 11 February 2008

Author: timelless from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This MOVIE was funny beginning to end. It also told a story about life! If you went to see this movie expecting a big story line.... a big climatic ending.... a moving personal event then you would be let down. If you went to enjoy a funny movie with a good purpose you probably enjoyed it. The theater we were in were laughing hysterically throughout the movie; so much so it was sometimes hard to hear the follow up lines. ****THIS MAY BE CONSIDERED A SPOILER**** The ending was weird though, I would have liked to have seen the "tv show" before the credits. It was hilarious but most people, including myself were beginning to exit the theater and had to stop in the aisle. Other than that good movie worth the $20 it cost to see it.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Exceedinlgy Average, 27 November 2008

Author: The_Matrix_Rocks from South Africa

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.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Surprisingly funny., 23 May 2009

Author: k-dhesi from United Kingdom

Firstly, ignore the low rating. It's obvious that welcome home Roscoe Jenkins is very underrated. It has everything you need in a comedy, it has a hilarious familiar cast, it's just full of laughs and fun. Martin Laurence did wonderfully and Mike Epps was Hesterical.

The title seems cheesy and typical, but the movie it self were far from that. The movie even becomes touching towards the end. A great one for a more mature family. I say that because the movie is not just another "cheaper by the dozen" most jokes are more for older people, and some scenes are not all appropriate for your young ones. What makes the film so great is it's execution, it's lines and it's just simple fun to watch. A family get's re united, so you can already imagine the laugh's your going to get already. Martin Laurence (Roscoe) returns back to were he grew up, he's off coarse successful and he comes back to his cousins, who are a nice delight to watch. Mike Epps doesn't stop delivering some nice laughs. He plays his role nicely. The rest of the cast were good too.

A typical family? well you will see your usual arguments and a whole lot of fighting! A great fun funny flick that will keep you laughing from start to finish. Go see it.

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6 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
A decent comedy with some chuckles but nothing mind blowing by any means, 20 February 2008

Author: Robert W. (Robert_duder@hotmail.com) from Ontario, Canada

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is exactly what you might expect. In an attempt to mimic the recent inexplicable success of the Tyler Perry films and TV Series, it's all about African American family getting together and they all have wacky different personalities and enter slapstick comedy, one liners, stereotypes, and sexual jokes. That sounds like a bad thing but it turns out a relatively entertaining comedy, if not a little run of the mill. Director and writer of the film Malcolm D. Lee has not had a lot of experience as a big screen director and I think in some ways his inexperience shows through a little. I mean the film has some good laughs it just doesn't hold your attention very long. The characters are just so overblown and there is some sort of messed up moral there somewhere that just doesn't work out very well. It's supposed to be this feel good moment when Roscoe realizes the error of his ways and comes around but it's not as climatic as it could have been. The very weak romance that exists has very little chemistry. So the film really does rely on the comedic talents of it's star and the physical comedy which does manage to get a few chuckles.

Martin Lawrence stars as Roscoe "RJ" Jenkins. I do like Lawrence, he does always seem to play the same sort of character but he does have great comedic timing and he really is terrific at physical comedy which I love and I have great respect for a comedian who does it right. Lawrence is very watchable as Roscoe and definitely carries the film. Joy Bryant plays the high maintenance fiancé to Roscoe, Bianca. She does a good job as well. Her and Lawrence have Zero chemistry and actually look ridiculous together I think. I suppose they aren't supposed to look good together. Still she makes a good villain and someone you'll love to hate. Nicole Ari Parker plays the 'other girl' Roscoe's true love and childhood sweetheart. I hate to say it but Parker is bland and looks like a deer in the headlights. She has almost as little chemistry with Lawrence and she IS supposed to have chemistry with him. She just looks bored or tired or something but doesn't fit the cast. Cedric The Entertainer who I also think can be a very funny guy plays Lawrence's rival and cousin. He is decent but just kind of does his thing and never really makes any significant addition to the cast. The real charm in the film is the incredible supporting cast that make up the wild family including the incredible James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, and Michael Clarke Duncan (who is terrific as Roscoe's older stronger brother.) The two members of the cast who significantly drag this cast down are Mo'Nique as a stereotypical, trashy, sleazy girl who wants nothing more than to have a lot of sex. Her role is demeaning and as hard as she tries to be funny...she isn't. And Mike Epps who is a decent comedian sometimes and even this role is kind of funny but he gets lost in the bland characterization of his character.

Most will find the film genuinely funny and it is but it won't stick with you. It's not something that will become a classic comedy unless you're a huge Martin Lawrence fan. It certainly doesn't seem to hold the charm, wit, or wacky comedy that Tyler Perry's comedies seem to have although I have yet to see one. Basically as a Saturday night fun flick to rent on DVD you might not be disappointed but it certainly isn't something to rush out and see in the theaters. So far following the amazing year that was 2007, 2008 is doing a lot of average flicks and this one will get lost in the shuffle. 7/10

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Majorly Underrated., 12 September 2009

Author: Erik Unknown from United States

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.

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