Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008)

Barbecued

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

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Martin Lawrence stars as the successful host of a sleazy talk show, engaged to a "Survivor" winner (Joy Bryant). They visit his Southern family, the source for a lot of unsolved childhood anguish. Funny people abound, such as Cedric the Entertainer, Mo'Nique, Mike Epps, etc., but their antics can't save this lazy, bloated, stupid affair. Writer/director Malcolm D. Lee, who has made good films before (The Best Man, Undercover Brother), sets up all the typical jokes with no skill or timing, and his attempts at heartfelt drama flop; in fact, his camera seems to have trouble even following any kind of physical movement. A child or any half-intelligent cartoon character could navigate this mess better than the buffoons Lee has cooked up; it's the type of thing his cousin Spike has railed against for years.

AskMen.com: Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Starring: Martin Lawrence, James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Cedric the Entertainer, Nicole Ari Parker, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mike Epps, Mo'Nique, Damani Roberts, Brooke Lyons, Liz Mikel
Written by: Malcolm D. Lee
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language and some drug references
Running Time: 114 minutes
Date: February 8, 2008