 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
- Review Date: June 16, 2008
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2008
Common Sense Media says
Good cast can't save stereotype-laden comedy.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What 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).
What's the story?
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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Kid, 7 years old
June 25, 2009
AGE
any one 13 or older SHOULD watch it
it is very very funny. i love this movie.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 7, 2010
AGE
Kinda OK for tweens, perfect for adults
I like this movie. It's pretty good. I watched it with my dad last night. Although the language and sexual content wasn't very appropriate for my age... The movie's still good. Really funny. I like.
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AGE
WARNING: FULL OF LANGUAGE
I have never given a review here before, but am VERY concerned about the review on commonsensemedia.org on this particular movie. I count on your site religiously to decide on whether to allow our family (children are ages 12 and 14) to watch certain movies. This movie claimed to contain one use of the f-word and had mo mention of gd, although both were used at least twice and the entire movie was completely FULL of constant swearing and cussing. It was so offensive I was very dissapointed. The movie would have been good had it not been for this. I really wish Hollywood realized that this stuff does NOT sell movies to families! It offends and it is just not acceptable. Period. Thanks for letting me vent.
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AGE
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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AGE
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.
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AGE
Welcome home and laugh
This movie was so funny and hystericial at the same time really funny scenes and lots of mishap of of the best comedy movies ive ever seen!
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AGE
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.
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| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Malcolm D. Lee |
| Cast: | James Earl Jones, Joy Bryant, Martin Lawrence |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 8, 2008 |
| DVD release date: | June 16, 2008 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | crude and sexual content, language and some drug references. |
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