Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Going home is no vacation.
A successful talk show host leaves Los Angeles to reunite with his family in the Deep South.
| Martin Lawrence | Roscoe Jenkins |
| James Earl Jones | Papa Jenkins |
| Cedric the Entertainer | Clyde Stubb |
| Michael Clarke Duncan | Otis |
| Mike Epps | Reggie |
| Damani Roberts | Jamaal Jenkins |
| Louis C.K. | Marty |
| Brandin Jenkins | Junior |
| Reginald Davis Jr. | Young Roscoe |
| Gus Hoffman | Young Clyde |
| Affion Crockett | Dayquan |
| Robin McGee | Airline Employee |
| Werner Richmond | Family Pastor |
| Rich Medina | DJ |
| Ted Ferguson | 1st Class Airline Passenger |
2.90 out of 10 (1883 votes)
Visitor Reviews
A somewhat funny movie
posted on 03 Aug 2009Roscoe Jenkins has taken the name "RJ Stevens" and become a self-help guru with a book and talk show based on the premise "the team of me". He heads home accompanies by his self-absorbed fiancée, Bianca, who has the idea that they should record RJ's parent's 50th anniversary celebration.At home, RJ's family does not treat him as the important semi-celebrity he is in LA but as the child who could never defeat his cousin Clyde in any competition and as the boy still under his parents' dominion at home. Roscoe's relatives played by James Earl Jones. Margaret Avery, Cedric the Entertainer, Mo'nique and Michael Clarke Duncan are all funny and good at puncturing the bubble of Roscoe's believed importance. Eventually Roscoe learns some important lessons about the importance of family and remaining connected to them and becomes the man his father has always wanted him to be. This is a decent, somewhat funny movie so it gets a grade of C+ and a moderate recommendation.
Expecting too much
posted on 03 Aug 2009Come on people, I think you were expecting too much. It was a comedy and I thought it was very funny. How were the "stereotypes" semi-insulting? I believe half of us have a relationship with someone in our family pretty close to what Roscoe had with his father, and his siblings. We live with it and accept it. Or if we can't accept it, we tell the person, (finally!) how we feel and sometimes we learn because of not communicating that we both looked at things very differently. ("I didn't know you felt that way!)Black people deal with things, especially family issues, with humor. Ease up, not Oscar material, but very funny.
This Was Another Comedy With A Serious Message
posted on 06 Jul 2009You can never go wrong in a movie with crazy Martin Lawrence, crazy Mike Epps, crazy Cedric the Entertainer, fly Nicole Parker and fly Joy Bryant. Let's not forget James Earl Jones and Margaret "Shug" Avery playing the parents in this movie. Monique was not good at all in this movie! She was much better in other movies. There were inappropriate scenes in this movie. Why were the dogs doing it? Why did Roscoe let his stuck up girlfriend boss him around and not listen to his son? Why wasn't Roscoe's son's mother shown in this movie? And why was Cedric's character finally touched at the end of the movie? He was manipulating Roscoe since 1985!
laughless comedy
posted on 30 Jun 2009The misbegotten comedy "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" features Martin Lawrence as a "Trash-TV" talk show host who, against his better judgment, attends a family get-together commemorating the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents (played by James Earl Jones and Margeret Avery, who are both way too classy for this enterprise). Roscoe's return leads to a seemingly endless series of conflicts and petty competitions between the citified prodigal son and his country bumpkin relatives still living back home.The performances are fun and lively - particularly by Mo'Nique, who steals the show as Roscoe's loudmouth, up-in-everybody's-grill sister - but the threadbare script, filled as it is with predictable slapstick and cloying sentimentality, rarely makes us laugh. The movie probably would have been better had it dispensed with the family reunion concept altogether and, instead, focused on satirizing Jenkins' day job. As it is, there's really nothing in Roscoe's attitude and demeanor to suggest that he has anything in common with the Jerry Springers of the world. And without that angle to distinguish the movie from every other run-of-the-mill family comedy of recent vintage, any possible interest the film might have generated dies aborning.Well worth skipping.
Pretty funny stuff!
posted on 30 Jun 2009Well, normally, I won't watch anything with an IMDb rating of less than 6.0. I was watching cable yesterday, and saw this had already started, unaware of the 4.5 rating it earned on IMDb. And you know what? The movie was pretty damn funny. Having grown up in a big family, and moving away...I'm not sure, maybe it's the similarity of background with Roscoe. But there are some funny bits, good repartee, and just an enjoyable flick. Certainly as good, if not better than ML's other work (exception: BB 2). James Earl Jones, Michael Duncan, Cedrick, Vanessa, I mean that these are entertaining people (granted, no Oscars here, but what did you expect?). Bottom line: no football on TV, and with no other good movies on, this was out-loud funny, and I didn't once find myself channel surfing (but I did miss the first 15 minutes). Enjoy!
Martin Lawrence's best by far
posted on 22 Jun 2009Finally! I said. A movie I can rate as not just a little, but far superior to comedies with mostly all African-American casts, including all prior formula Martin Lawrence comedies, beauty/barber shops, etc. Although it did not rise to the heights still claimed by Eddie Murphy at his best, I laughed out loud a lot -- not easy when you're always stressed out and looking for a laugh. I thought MoNique was hilarious. Those moviegoers that always get up and walk out to beat the traffic when the credits start rolling would have missed some of this movie's most hilarious scenes. I am a peaches-and-cream light-skinned older lady living for decades in a country with 95% shades of coffee-with-cream to ebony population. So while I am aware of the usually subtle, sometimes overt, discrimination between lighter and darker shades of my sisters and bros, I didn't see it in this movie or in any of the other movies referenced regarding Roscoe's decision to choose the lighter or darker-skinned girl. I'd watch it again, but then I only pay US$1.37 for a one night rental. The writer/director is to be commended for doing a lot with a small budget but what good fortune for him to assemble such a really great cast. Kudos to all. Definitely recommended.
A depressing and awful mess. What were James Earl Jones and Michael Clarke Duncan THINKING?
posted on 02 Jun 2009I wasn't expecting much with this film. I got even less. I went for a bit of colour and dash, a way to pleasantly while away a couple hours after a rough week at work. However, I can only describe this "movie" as a hideous mess. Some of the cast members are great actors of the past--- James Earl Jones, Michael Clarke Duncan, for example. What were they thinking? Did the script come to their agents written in some foreign language such as Greek or Chinese? And they, therefore, had no idea what awful dreck they had signed on for? Or are those wonderful actors desperate for some dosh?Clichés and stereotypes are fine--- they can be the fodder for pleasant comedies and more or less worthwhile escapist entertainment. This "film", though, was not escapist, nor was it funny, nor was it pleasant. It was an ugly, dim, depressing and sloppy piece of pooh.Imagine the makers of a Ben Stiller-type "frustration comedy" movie on Qualudes, and on a 6-year bummer to boot. That's how mean spirited this so-called comedy was. The once-great Eddie Murphy's recent disaster "Norbit" was Oscar material compared to this. Save your money, and your time, and avoid this vapid and downer of a movie. BTW--- if anyone knows Martin Lawrence's address, let me have it, so I can demand my money back.
Lively and yes, funny
posted on 09 May 2009Successful Talk Show Host RJ (Lawrence) is besieged to come back home for his parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary.I was skeptical, I was wary, I wasn't sure, but this time the promos didn't let me down. This was good. Since the basic theme was a grand family reunion, you know the usual obligatory things will be performed, a softball game, (with other families it may be a touch football game), an obstacle course (okay, this is a new one that I've witnessed, but there you are) and other family things, etc. Nothing new here. But, what keeps this movie fresh is the quick and lively dialogue from all the cast. It didn't feel scripted. It was like eavesdropping on the goings on and the timing, by all, was excellent. And, you know you need good timing when slap-stick comedy is performed. Also, the music throughout was perfect.This was without a doubt a cast of characters, and not your usual every day family members and each character member had his or her own shtick and this helped make this a fun movie. Joy Bryant who played Bianca must have gone to the Molly Sims School of Acting because I kept seeing and hearing Ms. Sims whenever Ms Bryant was on screen. Hey, this is a good thing, not a criticism. She was good. Nicole Ari Parker who played Lucinda is absolutely beautiful. I am sure we will see more of these two women in future movies. It is indeed rare that promos deliver when it comes to comedy, but this time they did. How about that!Violence: Yes, family fighting stuff, Sex: Yes, Dog Sex: Yes, two go at it. Nudity: No, Language: Yes, some, not much
Funny and Entertaining
posted on 08 Mar 2009I must say I wasn't too excited when my hubby said "let's go see Roscoe Jenkins". But I must also say that I am glad we did. It was very funny and entertaining. The script was not as typical as movies such as This Christmas and I actually found the plot to be defined. Yes the risks were high enough and the acting was good. The comedy was cool, forced at times, but funny most of the time. The writing was pretty cool. I did not have high expectations for this film at first and I truly do not know why because I think Martin Lawrence is very talented and funny. He always makes me laugh. I'm just tired of seeing the same script a thousand times and this script was not the same script a thousand times. The message was also good and it was a breath of fresh air to see a film about a Black Man having a meaningful relationship with their Father. It was also good to see real actors and comedians and not musicians trying to act. This made a big difference. The only thing that needed work in this movie was the cinematography. I felt as if the cinematographer was trying to sabotage the movie with extremely unnecessary shots. I could not understand how someone who has experience shooting many movies could shoot so many scenes out of FOCUS!. Overall, it is an excellent film with many funny moments. Family can definitely go and see it even though it has some riskier shots and language.
Funny for the most part
posted on 06 Mar 2009I thought the movie was funny for the most part. My main problem with the movie was with Amy the dumb "white" Girlfriend. With the whole cast being black why was her role even needed? In the world today if it had been a white cast and any other race it would have been a raciest movie. Guess it is different when it is the "man" being made fun of. But other than that gripe about the movie I did find the family fighting funny in how kids are usually so competitive with in families. I also thought the main character waited a little to long to check his girlfriend. In my family the first signs of disrespect would have got her to calm down.
Going home is no vacation.
posted on 18 Feb 2009A successful talk show host leaves Los Angeles to reunite with his family in the Deep South.By the end of this movie's trailer, you would've thought "Oh, not again." No, that's what you were thinking. Don't deny it. Even I did too. But the trailer is very misleading and I found myself liking this movie more than I was going to. A lot more.What I loved about this movie were the characters and moral. And yes, I loved those things. Each of the characters are unique and have their own memorable moments. Also, this movie had some pretty decent jokes, much better than many other comedies released this time who use clichéd and predictable jokes.What I also admired about this movie was the family matter and moral this movie was trying to give out. I found it oddly touching and very sweet. Unfortunately, the other jokes this movie seem to have were also predictable, gross, unfunny, and crude. Some scenes in the movie just ruin the sweets scenes before it because it felt like the filmmakers just want to make people laugh.Like I said, the characters were memorable. The most notable were James Earl Jones, Nicole Ari Parker, and Mo'Nique. Mo'Nique, I must say, is the funniest character in here, in my opinion. She throws each joke at you and you can't have enough!Yes, the trailers for this movie were misleading so the movie was actually quite decent. The jokes were actually funny, the characters memorable, and the moral is very touching for anyone who has a family. Sure, it had its bad moments but this is better than most comedies released this year.
Distant relatives
posted on 18 Feb 2009Martin Lawrence has tone down a lot in his recent years. He's a lot more humble and mindful during his interviews. I'm started to see him mature(maybe because he's in his 40s) and not playing that same overzealous type he's been cast as. Roscoe Jenkins was a fairly decent movie and as for laughs Mike Epps stole the show. Monique is crazy as ever and Cedric makes a few laughs himself. This movie has a widely all-star cast such as James Earl Jones who play Martin's (Roscoe Jenkins) dad and Margaret Avery his mom,Michael Clarke Duncan his brother,Nicole Parker who Roscoe had a childhood crush on,and Joy Bryant Roscoe's fiancé. After watching this movie not only speaking for myself I know most people can relate to this film. A sibling rivalry,a flirtatious cousin,and a conservative dad. Everyone has a relative that we normally can't see eye to eye,but at the end of the day they are all family. No matter how successful you've become and without family to support your achievements it means nearly nothing. This movie teaches you that,it's not only where you come from it's who you are,and you wouldn't know that if it wasn't for family.
Another perspective?
posted on 02 Feb 2009I read a lot of other comments and just wanted to offer a different perspective. Many of us have family members that are almost as embarrassing as some of those depicted in the film. While I too agree that the character "Roscoe Jenkins" was justified in his position to leave home so that he could arise above the negativity in his family environment, I also feel that the movie showed his final obligation to accept family as they are.No matter how successful we are in our careers nothing can compare to being successful in our family relationships. In the end Roscoe and his dad realized the value of having each other and they respected each other's position for the first time.Let's face it. When we all checkout of this life it's only family that matters. People don't normally wish for more money or fame on their dying bed. However they may regret that they didn't make the extra effort to accept family just as they are (whether you agree with them or not).Just like the comedians that make us laugh when they share their pain, so do many laugh at movies like this because they see their own family represented to some extent. In real-life it's hard to laugh at. On film it is amazingly ridiculously funny. Just another perspective....
A cute family film!
posted on 25 Jan 2009This movie, although a little too clean and wholesome for my tastes is a nice treat that the children are sure to enjoy. There were a few very slightly crude references, but, in my opinion, this could easily have been a pg movie. I didn't see anything that a 12 year old wouldn't have already seen just by watching Saturday morning television. There were some fart jokes, and the occasional innuendo, but, that is par for the course these days.There were about 3 specific sentences that could have been removed from this wholesome flick to make it fall under the G rating. All in all a nice clean cut family film.
Welcome home, Hollywood.
posted on 18 Dec 2008'Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins' is rude and crude, which you should expect from a movie with Martin Lawrence.But it's also a funny and surprisingly touching movie that mixes crude and sexual humor with a good message about how important family is.What really surprised me about the movie was the ending.In the end, Roscoe left his wife and eventually ended up with his previous girlfriend.I thought the relationship between R.J. and Bianca would last for the entire movie.Talk about being surprised.As funny as this movie is, there is one thing that some people should know.Most of the humor was funny, but some of it was R-rated comedy.For example, Bianca trims her pubic hair in the shape of Roscoe's initials.Nothing is shown, but we do know what's going on, since Roscoes head blocks her, you know.There's also a pretty graphic scene in which 2 dogs are doing the hippity-dippity.Overall, I enjoyed this movie is much as most people enjoy Martin Lawrence and his movies.Ignore the negative reviews and have yourself a good time like I did.Visiting the family has never been this much fun.
A decent comedy with some chuckles but nothing mind blowing by any means
posted on 14 Dec 2008Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is exactly what you might expect. In an attempt to mimic the recent inexplicable success of the Tyler Perry films and TV Series, it's all about African American family getting together and they all have wacky different personalities and enter slapstick comedy, one liners, stereotypes, and sexual jokes. That sounds like a bad thing but it turns out a relatively entertaining comedy, if not a little run of the mill. Director and writer of the film Malcolm D. Lee has not had a lot of experience as a big screen director and I think in some ways his inexperience shows through a little. I mean the film has some good laughs it just doesn't hold your attention very long. The characters are just so overblown and there is some sort of messed up moral there somewhere that just doesn't work out very well. It's supposed to be this feel good moment when Roscoe realizes the error of his ways and comes around but it's not as climatic as it could have been. The very weak romance that exists has very little chemistry. So the film really does rely on the comedic talents of it's star and the physical comedy which does manage to get a few chuckles.Martin Lawrence stars as Roscoe "RJ" Jenkins. I do like Lawrence, he does always seem to play the same sort of character but he does have great comedic timing and he really is terrific at physical comedy which I love and I have great respect for a comedian who does it right. Lawrence is very watchable as Roscoe and definitely carries the film. Joy Bryant plays the high maintenance fiancé to Roscoe, Bianca. She does a good job as well. Her and Lawrence have Zero chemistry and actually look ridiculous together I think. I suppose they aren't supposed to look good together. Still she makes a good villain and someone you'll love to hate. Nicole Ari Parker plays the 'other girl' Roscoe's true love and childhood sweetheart. I hate to say it but Parker is bland and looks like a deer in the headlights. She has almost as little chemistry with Lawrence and she IS supposed to have chemistry with him. She just looks bored or tired or something but doesn't fit the cast. Cedric The Entertainer who I also think can be a very funny guy plays Lawrence's rival and cousin. He is decent but just kind of does his thing and never really makes any significant addition to the cast. The real charm in the film is the incredible supporting cast that make up the wild family including the incredible James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, and Michael Clarke Duncan (who is terrific as Roscoe's older stronger brother.) The two members of the cast who significantly drag this cast down are Mo'Nique as a stereotypical, trashy, sleazy girl who wants nothing more than to have a lot of sex. Her role is demeaning and as hard as she tries to be funny...she isn't. And Mike Epps who is a decent comedian sometimes and even this role is kind of funny but he gets lost in the bland characterization of his character.Most will find the film genuinely funny and it is but it won't stick with you. It's not something that will become a classic comedy unless you're a huge Martin Lawrence fan. It certainly doesn't seem to hold the charm, wit, or wacky comedy that Tyler Perry's comedies seem to have although I have yet to see one. Basically as a Saturday night fun flick to rent on DVD you might not be disappointed but it certainly isn't something to rush out and see in the theaters. So far following the amazing year that was 2007, 2008 is doing a lot of average flicks and this one will get lost in the shuffle. 7/10
Not worth a plugged nickel!
posted on 28 Nov 2008This is a terribly disappointing movie. With such a well-known cast I was expecting something with a great deal more substance. I'll admit that the overall message of depending on family regardless of differences and personalities is a respectable message, however, the means certainly did not justify the end in this case. The unrestrained (and unnecessary) profanity, explicit sex scenes (with the dogs) and the rude, uncouth and vulgar mouth of Monique (who comes off as just plain ol' trashy) does not do the movie, the actors or the message any justice.Every one of these actors has portrayed highly memorable characters in other works, yet this was a break from good, wholesome fun, into raunchy, loudmouthed, predictable, almost cartoonish antics. The movie was extremely shallow.Regrettably, this movie does nothing but reinforce negative associations for the black (African-American) community. After all of the struggles put forth by civil rights activists, why would these actors go to such lengths to erode all the good that was accomplished? Seems self-defeating to me.From the caliber of these actors I expected so much more. Very disappointing.
Worth a watch with some good laughs
posted on 19 Sep 2008This is by no means Martin's best work but far from his worst and it has a good cast. I think a lot of viewers expected more slapstick and more silliness from Martin. It has a few moments where you think the rest of the film is going to tank but rebounds well.The ensemble cast does a great job of establishing the stories background and past relationships. There certainly could have been more intense humor than what resulted but I think the script was probably somewhat loose and lacking a sketch like quality which makes creating humor as well as improving a bit more challenging.The IMDb reviews had me prepared for a comedic catastrophe but the hate is greatly exaggerated. I think if you're expecting a hysterical movie with a laugh a minute, you're going to be disappointed. It's more of a slightly racy family comedy and thankfully, there isn't the typical overwhelming negative elements we see with almost all studio films these days. There's really no villain, no catastrophe or crisis, no tragedy and nothing to effect the psyche so you're left with anxiety you're unaware of.Give it a chance, I think you'll be entertained. It held my full attention which is a challenge for any movie.
Exceedinlgy Average
posted on 19 Sep 2008African American family values movies have matured into a distinct and popular genre and, Martin Lawrence traverses familiar territory with this awkwardly-titled movie.He plays RJ Stevens, a big city motivational guru who has taken the concept of "self-help" too far, leaving him somewhat estranged from his family in the Deep South.In an inelegant plot device, his parents' 50th anniversary serves as an exploitable marketing opportunity sufficiently enticing to lure him back to his hometown.From there, things unfold fairly formulaicly to RJ's rekindling of his true identity, Roscoe Steven Jenkins.Although Lawrence is the lead around whom the story revolves, it does feel slightly like an ensemble piece. But fortunately the cast is competent and believable, even those fulfilling comic relief roles.So as an illustration of good ol' hometown values like "always be true to yourself", "the importance of family", and the "power of forgiveness", it's a good choice for family night viewing, if you can find a way around Mo'Nique's apparent inability to avoid the B-word.
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Welcome Home, stay home and don't ever come out again - that's to the director and all involved.
posted on 29 Aug 2009I don't think I've ever seen a film as mis-leading nor as much as one thing on the surface but something horribly, horribly different underneath. Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins is absolutely a harmless and colourful comedy on the surface with pratfalls and family ties scenarios most people with large families will be able to identify with. It features a bumbling and inept hero who spends most of the time alienated from the rest of his family but has a beautiful wife accompanying him as back up for good measure; it uses animals, in this case the old failsafe that are dogs, as a means of crude humour and it bizarrely assumes the audience will find meek racial jokes as well as overweight people generally funny.I'm sure there's a good film in Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins somewhere, isn't there? Meet the Parents and its sequel Meet The Fockers are recent examples of films playing on certain fears we all may have to face one day; the meeting of the family of the 'one' you have met. I guess the hook with Meet the Fockers is that the tables were turned somewhat on those antagonistic in the first film. But Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins seems to aim high although land well short. It wants to tell us about the value of families and I'm sure its heart is in the right place but it comes off as an insulting and down right crazy film that, in the process, sets African-American cinema back a few years.The film sees Martin Lawrence take on the title role of Roscoe Jenkins, a successful talk show host in the urban world that is Los Angles, who travels to the rural deep south for a family reunification complete with BBQ and general re-acquaintances. The film is Meet the Parents-lite complete with roles reversed, with the lead as a successful and boyish character rather than a male nurse who's nobody. Twinned with this is the fact the lead has the benefit of already knowing his family rather than entering the fray as a complete stranger, something Roscoe's partner Bianca Kittles (Bryant) whose claim to fame is winning a reality TV show, must deal with. However, there is never really any focus on Bianca and what material there is falls totally flat – removing her from the film might not have actually made too much difference.But this is a large family, with a range of different persons and personalities. James Earl Jones must have wondered what the Hell he was thinking when he saw the finished film as he plays nameless 'Papa' Jenkins alongside Margaret Avery who is 'Mama' Jenkins. The serious manner in which James Earl Jones plays the father of Roscoe and co. makes me wonder whether he was entirely sure this was supposed to be a comedy or if he's just not cut out for the genre, period. Roscoe's primary source for antagonism, however, is from that of cousin Clyde Stubb played by someone called Cedric the Entertainer – a smart move to use a pseudonym after being in this junk to disguise your name, thus eliminating the risk of not getting any more acting roles. The rivalry exists due to the protagonist's prior tragedy in life: the fact he is always beaten by cousin Clyde and that the one time he did emerge victorious, Clyde immediately shot him back down thanks to an incident with a girl Roscoe once liked.This girl is Lucinda (Parker) and she is now married to Clyde creating awkward tension whenever Roscoe is around. Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins is a familiarly set up film bursting full of potential jokes to do with returning to one's roots now that so much has changed, unfortunately the film is a disaster. The film is a window into another world; a window into another culture that nobody should ever want to experience, a sort of 'one up' on family members turning brotherly love into intense rivalry bordering on hatred for the sake of a few laughs. The film is the kind that sees its characters talk throughout about how grown up they are and how things have changed and they've changed with them, but for all the 'talk' about maturity and moving on, Roscoe and his relatives certainly act as childish as they possibly can.Another battle in the film is between the slim and attractive city girl Bianca and her binary opposition Betty (Mo'Nique), an obese, loud, egotistical, rural type who comes across as the butt of many-a jokes. The film is full of sexist visual gags, one of such is to do with a female practising Yoga as a male character has a good look at what's on offer but it's demeaning more than it is slightly worthy of a smile. Then there are the jokes revolving around shaven pubic hair and the 'dogs having intercourse gag' card is played three or so times before it's halted.A lot of the humour in the middle is played off these set ups but the reoccurring gag is that Roscoe and Lucinda have finally hit it off after all this time, despite only having seen each other for a few hours for the first time in ages – any fool can see there's nothing going on between them and it's only the sex-driven minds of certain idiot family members that prolong this joke. The film builds to a finale that reeks of a grudge match/revenge narrative but in a should-be feel good comedy, falls well flat. Papa Jenkins himself states that Lucinda is 'not a prize to be won' but by the end and by the time we've had the film flip on us, delivering the "No, families are actually a really good thing" lecture, she's already adopted that role – what a shame.