Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (PG-13)

Good cast can't save stereotype-laden comedy.

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Common Sense rates it
2
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Movie details
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Directed By: Malcolm D. Lee
  • Cast: Martin Lawrence, Joy Bryant, James Earl Jones
  • Running Time: 113 minutes
  • Release Date: 2/8/2008
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 6/16/2008
  • Genre: Comedy
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: crude and sexual content, language and some drug references.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that despite this family-reunion comedy's heartwarming message about remembering your roots and embracing your family, there are many raunchy jokes about sex -- including a scene of two dogs doing the deed. There's also plenty of foul language ("s--t," one use of "f--k," the "N" word), some of which is used in front of the characters' parents and other elders. Adult siblings bicker and get into fistfights, and there's a fair amount of social drinking (at one point, a pregnant woman drinks spiked punch).

Families can talk about the stereotypes depicted in the film. What parts of the movie do you think play up/reinforce stereotypes? How? Is it more OK for someone from a particular group to play up stereotypes of the same group than it is for someone outside the group to do the same thing? Why or why not?

Message

Social Behavior:

RJ learns that his real family, despite its flaws, is better than his fake Hollywood lifestyle. Bianca is obsessed with her image and "winning" but ultimately gets her comeuppance. Otis tells RJ he may not have a lot of money, but he feels rich nonetheless. All of that said, the movie does reinforce/perpetuate some stereotypes about African Americans.

Consumerism:

Some of the featured brands include Mac laptop, Budweiser beer, Cadillac Escalade, Range Rover, Survivor, Access Hollywood.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Plenty of beer at the family reunion, as well as spiked punch (even the pregnant sister-in-law drinks it), wine, and champagne.

Violence

Several of the siblings get into fights with RJ. One fight leaves him with a swollen bruise and the other literally bloody lipped. RJ accidentally hits his mom with a baseball.

Sex

RJ and Bianca are shown from the shoulders up during sex. Fifi and Bucky (two dogs) are shown doing the deed and later cuddling. Reggie sees Betty naked in the shower and makes off-color references to her "bundle of black meat." Bianca reveals her shaved pubic area to RJ, but the audience doesn't see anything. Reggie and his girlfriend are dressed like a cowboy and cowgirl late at night, obviously as part of foreplay. Other characters kiss and fool around. A few condoms spill out of Betty's cleavage before she heads out to do "Christian mission" work with the imprisoned.

Language

One "f--k," several uses each of "s--t," "bitch," "ass," "titty," and "bastard." The "N" word and "negro" are used by African-American characters.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sandie Angulo Chen

Director Malcolm D. Lee assembled a first-rate cast to star in family-reunion comedy WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS. Martin Lawrence headlines as RJ Stephens, a Dr. Phil-like talk-show host who returns to his family's Georgia home for the first time in nine years to celebrate his parents' 50th anniversary (Poppa is James Earl Jones; Mamma is Margaret Avery). Despite the presence of his gorgeous celebrity fiance Bianca (Joy Bryant), RJ is still the picked-on little brother to unimpressed siblings Otis (Michael Clarke Duncan) and Betty (Mo'Nique) and cousin Clyde (Cedric the Entertainer). The celebratory weekend turns into a mess when RJ can't come to terms with the family that playfully belittled him growing up.

Is it any good?

2
With so many talented actors, it's a shame that the movie's script has so many stereotypes about the no-good, hustlin' cousin; the big and loud sister; the patient and loving Mamma; and even the morbidly overweight kids. With a lesser cast, the comedy would have been unwatchable, but the able actors do what they can with the surprisingly limited script. By the time two dogs start going at it, there's nothing that even Oscar nominees like Jones and Avery can do to elevate the movie from forgettable mediocrity.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

3

Posted on 07/09/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Not enough funny parts to hide the flaws

From the previews ( before the movie hit theaters) this movie looked great. Then when it came out on dvd I decided to rent it and well lets just ssay the traileres tricked me. To begin with there is way way to much swearing every other word it seemed. As far as sex goes you dont see everything but a good amount, you do see the dogs doing it which i think is a disgrace. Now that I think about it there was much more sex. There was some fighting. It shows a father not disowning his own son I think the producer was trying to make it funny but he took it to the next level and not it a good way. There is no need to add all the extra stuff i said above. There are some good jokes and funny parts though. . Like I said there are some funny parts. I don't recommend this to many kids at all. Personally I don't think its appropriate. Parents if you do let your children watch this have the remote ready.
1


Posted on 02/20/08 by shekinaglory Adult contributor

Had to leave the theatre.....

4


Posted on 02/20/08 by Basye Adult contributor

Why the use of F**K?

Why is that word necessary in a PG-13 movie? Why the sexual content. I don't know about most parents but I don't want my 13 year old watching this kind of stuff.
3


Posted on 02/15/08 by rigreen77 Adult contributor

Pushing it!

I think this movie would have been very good with out about four or five scenes that really didn't have to be put in the movie. It was a very borderline PG-13 movie, with it's sexual content and I would not want my children watch it if they were 13 years of age.

Adult Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

1


Posted on 02/20/08 by shekinaglory Adult contributor

Had to leave the theatre.....

4


Posted on 02/20/08 by Basye Adult contributor

Why the use of F**K?

Why is that word necessary in a PG-13 movie? Why the sexual content. I don't know about most parents but I don't want my 13 year old watching this kind of stuff.
3


Posted on 02/15/08 by rigreen77 Adult contributor

Pushing it!

I think this movie would have been very good with out about four or five scenes that really didn't have to be put in the movie. It was a very borderline PG-13 movie, with it's sexual content and I would not want my children watch it if they were 13 years of age.

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

3

Posted on 07/09/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Not enough funny parts to hide the flaws

From the previews ( before the movie hit theaters) this movie looked great. Then when it came out on dvd I decided to rent it and well lets just ssay the traileres tricked me. To begin with there is way way to much swearing every other word it seemed. As far as sex goes you dont see everything but a good amount, you do see the dogs doing it which i think is a disgrace. Now that I think about it there was much more sex. There was some fighting. It shows a father not disowning his own son I think the producer was trying to make it funny but he took it to the next level and not it a good way. There is no need to add all the extra stuff i said above. There are some good jokes and funny parts though. . Like I said there are some funny parts. I don't recommend this to many kids at all. Personally I don't think its appropriate. Parents if you do let your children watch this have the remote ready.
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