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The Honeymooners
- Review Date: December 7, 2006
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Yet another needless remake...save your money.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie includes some raunchy innuendo ("I do my best work down below!"), antics in the sewer, an illegal entry and multiple lies, especially between husbands and wives.
What's the story?
In this update of the 1950s television comedy, husband Ralph (Cedric the Entertainer) and his wife Alice (Gabrielle Union) want to improve their lives, but they're stuck: he's still driving his bus and she's still waiting diner tables. She finds the perfect Brooklyn duplex for them to share with neighbors Norton (Mike Epps) and Trixie (a href="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews/Regina-Hall/">Regina Hall, but snarly developer Davis (Eric Stoltz) has cash upfront. Afraid to tell Alice that he's spent their savings, Ralph takes up a series of ridiculous money-making schemes with Norton.
Is it any good?
Yet another needless remake, THE HONEYMOONERS repeats the original's backwards gender roles, without remembering its intelligent ironies. Where the first Ralph and Alice shared a believable commitment, it's unclear why this Alice stays with this selfish Ralph. And while most of the film's target audience will not have seen the TV series, the movie might still have made good use of the textured combination of tragicomic frustration and inspired resilience demonstrated by Jackie Gleason and his costars. Cedric is more cuddly than poignant, in a thinly written role that leaves his costars without an energetic center to resist or support.
John Schultz's movie careens between glib and slapdash, only lifting basic characterizations and situations. Scenes don't hang together, Alice is distracted rather than strong and patient, and Trixie is reduced to "Alice's friend," as Davis calls her. Though Norton is mostly ridiculous, Epps is also the film's most consistently comic element. Ralph is mean to all, then learns his lesson. But you hardly care.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the Kramdens' apparently different goals (she wants a house, he wants to be a successful entrepreneur), as these cause tensions. How does Ralph's friendship with Norton affect his marriage and vice versa? Why is it important to respect other people's aspirations and feelings? How might Ralph and Norton be nicer to their dog, Iggy?
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AGE
POW Alice! To the MOON!!
Having grown up watching Art Carney and Jackie Gleason in 'The Honeymooners' I found myself making comparisons between the movie remake and the original program. Cedric portrayed Gleason, and Epps, Carney almost to the 'T' but for the occasional sexual innuendo. No matter how homophobic they may be, they always seem to save the day by proving their love to their respective spouses and rectifying their bumbling throughout the movie. On my laugh-o-meter I would rank it a 6 (out of 10).
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AGE
Good Rental
This is another one to watch at home. It's cute. A little slow and very predictable at times, but a nice family movie. Rent it and see for yourself.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | John Schultz |
| Cast: | Cedric the Entertainer, Gabrielle Union, Mike Epps |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 90 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 10, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | November 22, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some innuendo and rude humor |
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