Roscoe Jenkins labors too hard to wring too-few chuckles.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)
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Reviews Counted:78
Fresh:19
Rotten:59
Average Rating:4.4/10
Consensus: Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins has moments of comic inspiration -- and long stretches of overdone slapstick.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for crude and sexual content, language and some drug references.
Runtime: 1 hr 54 mins
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:30-05-2008
Synopsis: Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence (BAD BOYS, BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE) aims for the heartstrings and funny bones in WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS, a raucous helping of family soul food. Lawrence plays R.J.... Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence (BAD BOYS, BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE) aims for the heartstrings and funny bones in WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS, a raucous helping of family soul food. Lawrence plays R.J. Stevens (in truth, Roscoe Steven Jenkins), a Hollywood self-help sensation whose fame has netted him a reality television star fiancée (Joy Bryant) while simultaneously alienating his young son. Having been away from his family for nine years, prodigal son R.J. returns to Georgia to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents (James Earl Jones and Margaret Avery). Upon his arrival, R.J. is given a rude awakening by his none-too-impressed siblings (Mike Epps, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Mo'Nique). R.J. must also contend with his ultra-competitive cousin Clyde (Cedric the Entertainer), the family's presumptive "golden boy" and a long-time rival who stole the affections of R.J.'s childhood sweetheart, Lucinda (Nicole Ari Parker). As the celebration weekend rolls on, R.J.'s craving for his father's respect and an inflated sense of self threaten family harmony and his opportunity to reconnect with Lucinda, and--worst of all--his relationship with his own son. Lawrence makes Roscoe a genuinely sympathetic foil to the comedic antics of Mo'Nique and Epps, both of whom are given room to riff by director Malcom D. Lee (UNDERCOVER BROTHER, ROLL BOUNCE). Frequently bawdy but thoroughly entertaining, WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS is also a warmhearted reminder that you are where you come from, and that when searching for yourself no one can put you straight better than a loving family. [More]
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Louis C.K.
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Louis C.K., Michael Clarke Duncan, Mike Epps, Mo'Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Cedric the Entertainer, James Earl Jones
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Screenwriter: Malcolm D. Lee
Producer: Scott Stuber, Mary Parent, Charles Castaldi
Composer: David Newman
Studio: Universal Pictures
Reviews for Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
An in-your-face double helping of fat jokes, crude slapstick, wacky Southern-black stereotypes and occasionally inspired improv.
If the idea of watching Martin Lawrence getting used and abused appeals to you, then Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is the movie for you.
It’s capable at times of real subtlety and warmth and humanity, but not confident enough in itself to stay away from fart jokes or empty acts of sassiness for very long.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins leans too heavily on bruising slapstick for easy laughs, with Lawrence absorbing blows from most of his family members, when mosquitoes and skunks aren't getting in on the action.
It's impressive, actually, that Lawrence lets this film's supporting players steal so much of his show -- as movie stars go, he must be a pretty secure guy.
Even when the movie's overplayed or undercooked, its roughhousing energy grows on you.
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is [Lawrence's] latest starring vehicle and yet another that drowns any comedic talents he once had with a cliché plot and hollow character arcs.
Noisy, scattershot Martin Lawrence comedy has a promising setup, and then simply stops trying.
You can often gauge how desperate a comedy is by the number of attacking animals it features.
Nominally a one-star film, I’ll add another just for the supreme pleasure of seeing Mo’Nique beat the bejesus out of her arrogant costar.
It's not half bad, largely because it places an absolute premium on brash, bawdy humor.
If you thought National Lampoon's Vacation films were at least okay, then Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is a decent enough way to spend two hours.
The movie makes it abundantly clear that Roscoe should have gone home again. Unfortunately, what's equally apparent is that you shouldn't go with him.
You find yourself reliving many of your family reunions while watching this comedy, many of us having suffered through the same troubles.
Uninspired sitcom about a man visiting home to a family that disrespected him as a youth.
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