Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Crass humor but also sincere messaging in Tyler Perry film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Joe’s College Road Trip
What's the Story?
BJ (Jermaine Harris) has grown up sheltered and raised by his father Brian (Tyler Perry) not to "see race" in JOE'S COLLEGE ROAD TRIP. But that means he's also wildly ignorant about Black history and his own heritage. Brian's Aunt Madea (Perry again) convinces him to let Grandpa Joe (Perry) drive BJ across country to look at colleges and give him a crash-course in Black history (and less sensitive parenting).
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot to chuckle about in this film, and even some tender moments that tug on the heartstrings, but that doesn't mean Perry won't draw the usual critiques of his work with this one. Joe's College Road Trip contains meaningful lessons about understanding Black history and appreciating the role the past has played in shaping the present. But at the same time, the film flirts with some serious misogyny in former "pimp" Joe's language and treatment of women, aka "ho's" (the "whorehouse" scene alone could send female viewers running).
Harris is a delight as the nerdy BJ, and an opening documentary-style narration about Joe is very funny. Perry has a keen eye for skewering the culture, but he's his own worst enemy when he takes things too far (which he always seems to) or overexplains plot points that have more power left on their own (like the locations where Joe takes BJ but Destiny later explains like a schoolteacher).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Joe's College Road Trip toes the line between crass comedy and heartfelt, serious messages. Does one outweigh the other for you?
What are some of the places Joe takes BJ without telling him why the sites are important? Where could you find more information about these historical locations?
What do you think about the idea of raising children "not to see race"? What are the positives and negatives to this proposition, in your opinion? Is it possible in the US today?
What does Joe mean when he says someone had to pay for the relatively privileged life his grandson's generation leads?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 13, 2026
- Cast : Tyler Perry , Jermaine Harris , Amber Reign Smith
- Director : Tyler Perry
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories , Friendship , History
- Run time : 111 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 18, 2026
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