Are We There Yet? (PG, 2005)

common sense media says

Less amusing than a game of license plate bingo.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has quite a bit of crude humor and some strong language for a PG. There is a lot of comic cartoon-style violence, including hits in the crotch, played for comedy. Some viewers may be upset by brief shots of a dead deer. And some may be disturbed by the portrayal of absent fathers.

Violence: Comic, cartoon-style violence.
Sex: Mild references, crude humor.
Language: Some strong language for a PG.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Are We There Yet?

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why Kevin and Lindsey tried to sabotage her dates and what made Nick begin to feel some sympathy and respect for the children. They may also want to talk about some of their own car trips and what kinds of things families can do to make sure that the trips are enjoyable for everyone.

What's the story?

What's the story?
In ARE WE THERE YET?, Nick (Ice Cube), is a playa who thinks his life is mighty fine until he catches a look at the luscious Suzanne (Nia Long), who works across the street from his Portland, Oregon sports memorabilia shop. He tries to resist when he finds out that she has two children, but when he rescues her on a rainy night after her car breaks down and she knows the stats on his favorite player, Satchel Paige, he's a goner. Even though he does not like children, he will do anything to get close to her. Suzanne needs someone to take her children to Vancouver on New Year's Eve, and after they get into trouble at the airport and miss the train, Nick has to drive them in his beloved and pristine new SUV. Predictably, everything goes wrong on the trip, from an encounter with a kick-boxing deer to projectile vomit.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The longest, naggiest, car-sickiest travel with children cannot be any more tedious than this weak and dragged-out generic fluff that wastes the talents of four performers who should know better. There are about three good minutes of material in this film, all of which appear in the trailer. The funny parts aren't funny, and even worse are the parts that are supposed to be touching. Nick and the kids have to find some way to like each other, but this aspect of the movie is not just unimaginative and tedious; it is so insincere and condescending that it is affirmatively unpleasant.

It's a shame to see the beautiful and talented Nia Long, given so little to do. Ice Cube seems to enjoy his interaction with his young co-stars but never seems fully engaged. Even with the voice of Tracey Morgan, the talking Satchel Paige bobblehead is tiresome. The performer who comes across the best is Aleisha Allen (of School of Rock), who has a fresh and appealing presence.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Brian Levant
Cast: Aleisha Allen, Ice Cube, Philip Daniel Bolden
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 92 minutes
Theatrical release: January 21, 2005
DVD release: May 24, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: language and rude humor

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

17

Most useful reviews by all members

jrw
adult
 
What a waste of time!
If we had not gone to this movie with another family, I would have walked out.

robinpeggy
parent of 12 year old
 
better than I expected from the CSM review
Watchable for a parent. Both my 11 and 6 year old enjoyed this (a few of the scenes were momentarily frightening for the 6-year-old, but no more so than, say, Finding Nemo). And I like my white kids, who live in a segregated world, seeing black characters of substance.

 
Ok
Not Grean and suprisingly off color

yodog417
teen, 15 years old
 
funny!
kids from 7+ can watch this its funny and not bad at all

Sgt-Samson
teen, 16 years old
 
A good potential but with hidden problems that really plagued this movie.

 
Extremely Funny
The funniest movie we've seen in some time. The whole family enjoyed it. The movie kept moving the whole time and didn't slow down until the end. It left you wanting more instead of wishing it would hurry up and finish.

DogloverFt
teen, 15 years old
 
i love this movie
This movie is great and kids 8 and up should be allowed to watch it!

Chrihddjason
kid, 12 years old
 
Violence (Pause): Navigator day/night coming from 3:00 am snaked at the house and nude/naked. S``/Nudity (Pause): kissing and it says "dirty h```y s`` men" in it Language (Pause): Strong Language for 8 - 17 year olds "h*ll","d*mn","b*tt","pee", body parts like "bo*bs","a**", and moderating Jesus an exclamation, "p*ss","a**","s``t".. Consumerism (Pause): Money for Lincoln lotsofthem. Drinking, Smoking, Drugs (Not an issue) Negative Messages (Not an issue) Bad Role Models (Anonymoused) Yelling and that person day and night and day and night navigator in it is a bad role model/not a good role model Positive Messages (Not an issue) Good Role Models (Pause): They are being good to Jesus/God.

ariela2224
teen, 18 years old
 
The roadtrip movie
The movie is about a man who meets a women with kids and she has to go somewhere for her job and the kids real father lied and said he could not wattch the kids cause he was sick and the moms friend drives the kids and the kids are really bad and in the end the mom and her friend gets toghther and the kids like like the man.

Nanci23
adult
 
How bad is this!
I rented and watched w/o my children to preview and shut it off maybe a half hour in. It is rude, crude and violent. No fun for children or adults.

 
Ghettoed down a bit; be Very cautious with your audience
Watching as individuals or with siblings MIGHT be bareable, but you know that one feeling when something innapropriate occurs while you and your parents/grandparents/elders are there? Yeah, this is totally NOT A FAMILY MOVIE. And since many children watch movies with their families, therefore I would not recomend this to households

gamelover123
kid, 12 years old
 
sucks
i hated this movie it had lots of swearing for a pg movie and it had involved the character getting beat up alot.

Auddrey.
teen, 15 years old
 
8+ :)
pretty funny:) it says dirty horny sex man in it though. barely any violence. it was cute.

 
I Laughed!
This is not the best movie in the world, but it is a good movie. It's very entertaining and Ice Cube is hilarious in this!!! YOU MUST RENT IT! The language is only thing that would make this movie iffy but I think that 10 and up will enjoy this movie!!

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
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