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(About Our Ads) "WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS" (2008) (Martin Lawrence, Joy Bryant) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Moderate Mild Heavy None *Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None Moderate Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme None Moderate Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Comedy: A high-flying TV personality gets his comeuppance when he returns home for the first time in a decade and must deal with his family as they prepare for their parents' golden wedding anniversary. PLOT: Roscoe "R.J." Jenkins (MARTIN LAWRENCE) is a high-flying TV personality with a trashy but popular talk show where he constantly extols his "power of me" philosophy. His success has resulted in his engagement to reality TV star Bianca (JOY BRYANT) who isn't exactly thrilled with the prospect of being a stepmom to his young son, Jamaal (DAMANI ROBERTS), but figures that's additional baggage she can handle. She's less happy about accompanying them back to his small hometown of Dry Springs, a place he hasn't visited in nearly a decade. Yet, it's the golden wedding anniversary for his parents -- Papa (JAMES EARL JONES) and Mama Jenkins (MARGARET AVERY) -- and thus he figures he should be in attendance. Of course, that means he has to put up with his siblings: Otis (MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN) the muscle-bound sheriff; outspoken floozy Betty (MO'NIQUE); goofball Reggie (MIKE EPPS); and car dealership owner Clyde (CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER). The latter is Roscoe's unofficially adopted brother, and the two have been highly competitive all of their lives, mostly falling in Clyde's favor. That includes him dating Lucinda (NICOLE ARI PARKER), a woman Roscoe had a crush on back in grade school and who Clyde unfairly stole from him. With that rivalry now resurrected, Roscoe tries to put up with his family's eccentricities and treatment of him, all as he finds himself enticed by Lucinda. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're fans of anyone in the cast, they might be interested in it. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For crude and sexual content, language and some drug references. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: MARTIN LAWRENCE plays the high-flying host of a trashy TV talk show where he emphasizes "the power of me." He reluctantly returns to his hometown for his parents' anniversary, and hasn't been there for years, mainly because he doesn't get along with most of his family, especially his adopted "brother" Clyde. He fights with him, has sex with his fiancée, uses profanity (some of it briefly strong), and must choose between his fiancée and his childhood love, Lucinda (with whom he fools around at the end). JOY BRYANT plays his fiancée, a reality TV star who's conceited and doesn't think much of his family, especially after meeting them. She has sex with him, and has a bad attitude toward his son and the boy's lack of physical prowess. MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN plays Roscoe's brother, the hulking but generally good-natured local sheriff who gives Roscoe a hard time. He drinks a little and uses some strong profanity at the end (that's partially bleeped out). MIKE EPPS plays their goofy brother who drinks a little, fools around with his girlfriend, eyes Bianca, and uses some profanity. MO'NIQUE plays Roscoe's outspoken sister, a floozy who uses some profanity. CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER plays Roscoe's adopted "brother," a successful auto dealer who's always been ultra competitive with him, and he's all too happy to resurrect the rivalry between them (including a brief, comedy-based "fight"). NICOLE ARI PARKER plays his girlfriend, Roscoe's childhood crush, who's dismayed both with Clyde as well as what Roscoe has turned into. JAMES EARL JONES plays the family patriarch who isn't close with Roscoe, mainly because he thinks his son has let his fame and fortune go to his head, and doesn't like his "power of me" mentality and life philosophy. He uses some profanity. MARGARET AVERY plays the family matriarch who's happy the family's all together, but can't get Bianca's name right. DAMANI ROBERTS plays Roscoe's young son who must contend with not having a mother around, the prospect of Bianca being his stepmom, and having a famous dad who isn't always around for him. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word and at least 6 other partially bleeped out ones, while other expletives, colorful phrases, and sexually related dialogue are uttered (and some sexually related song lyrics are present). A comedy-based, sexual encounter is partially seen (with exaggerated movement and sounds), others are implied, and two dogs are seen vigorously mating. Varying amounts of cleavage are present, as is a prominent bulge in the front of a man's pants, while another man is seen in just a towel, and a woman stands nude in front of her seated fiancé (we see the side of her bare hip -- his head in the foreground of the shot blocks the more explicit view). Violence includes some comedy-based fighting (punches, tussling, etc.), with a little bit of bloody results. Most of that stems from varying levels of tense family material (some comedic in nature, while other bits are more serious), while some slapstick style material also occurs. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, and some crude humor is present. Various characters drink, and there a few brief drug references, while some of the behavior on display might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some handheld camera movement in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Bianca and others have champagne at a party, where a liquor bar is seen in passing. Bianca and others have champagne on a plane. Otis and Reggie have beer. Various family members have beer with their picnic. Reggie retrieves a beer. Various women in the family drink some modified wine. Betty sarcastically comments to Otis that their mom must have been on drugs when she was pregnant with him. Various family members have beer. Reggie talks of drug money. BLOOD/GORE About the old family dog and Bianca's much smaller, younger dog (and the probability of the former trying to mate with the latter), Reggie says the old dog is a "player" and "He's gonna hit her in the one that stinks and not the one that winks." Roscoe farts while doing a yoga move. Roscoe has a bloody nose and lip after fighting with Betty. Roscoe takes Bianca's dog off to pee. Betty scrapes her foot (removing dead skin, etc.) that's propped up on the kitchen table (no blood, just gross). There's a story about Roscoe in a top bunk and wetting the bed, prompting the one below him to sleep in a raincoat. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Roscoe tells his son that men run things in a romantic relationship. Reggie makes playful fun of Roscoe and the plaid pants he's wearing, doing a Yogi Bear impression while doing so. Meeting Bianca for the first time, Mama Jenkins says she must have some Indian in her with that long hair (that might rub some viewers the wrong way). Roscoe makes some playful but disparaging remarks about Otis' kids and their size. Roscoe half-jokes about the hulking Otis being a "fake ass Conan" (the barbarian). Despite losing a foot race that would determine who would get to ask out young Lucinda, young Clyde does so before young Roscoe (the victor) gets the chance. Papa Jenkins is then mad at Roscoe for having a girl as the "prize" and thus belts young Roscoe as his punishment (we hear but don't see the belt to bottom impact). Clyde gets away with just a stern comment, thus making Roscoe mad. Roscoe, who's vowed to be a vegan with Bianca, tries to lie his way out of her catching him eating some barbeque. Betty has a bad attitude toward Bianca, Lucinda, and Reggie's girlfriend. About some of Roscoe's past guests on his TV show, Reggie make some stereotypical Arab sounds. Jamal's female cousin tells him, "Don't be such a girl about it." About Jamal striking out playing baseball, Bianca says, "God, this kid is pathetic" (the boy does not hear her). Some may view the following as bad attitudes: Roscoe and Clyde gamble by throwing dice. Reggie blackmails Roscoe (about not telling Bianca that Roscoe allowed the family dog to mate with Bianca's dog) about getting the TV Roscoe bought for Papa Jenkins. Later, when Reggie acts as if he's going to spill the beans, Roscoe says he'll throw in the "platinum t*tty" and "buck-naked" channels. Reggie sneaks toward a shower, thinking it's Bianca in there, but then finds to his horror that it's Betty. She comments on him being a "nasty freak" who's trying to see her "black meat," "my treats" and more, while he comments in disgust, "Your t*tties are huge." To defeat Clyde at a family obstacle course challenge, Roscoe leaves his son behind (when the boy needs help). That prompts others to be mad at/disappointed with him, including Papa Jenkins. Otis talks of spanking and tazering his kids (played for comedy, but some viewers might not like the joke). FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS A starter pistol is used to start a race. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "M*therf*ck" (partially bleeped out), "F*ck you looking at?" "Being a vegan is the sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "(Stop talking that) Bullsh*t," "That's some nasty sh*t," "I've been banging your sister," "He's gonna hit her in the one that stinks and not the one that winks" (said about dogs mating), "Horny," "Woody" (erection), "Now you and momma got matching t*tties," "Platinum t*tty," "Your t*tties are huge," "Dog's a whore," "Hell no," "Damn the options," "Country ass airport," "How terribly quaint," "Oh hell yeah," "You must think I'm a damn fool," "Metrosexual," "Get up off that," "Occasionally whoop ass," "Nigger" (said by Reggie who's black), "Fake ass Conan (the Barbarian), "You're the baddest bitch," "Lab rat" (dog), "Ghetto that," "I should kick you in your ass," "What the hell /are you eating?" "Crazy ass," "He's a player," "Bottle-head," "Divine, sublime, and right on time," "Bitch, are you crazy?" "Girl, you tripping," "Skinny ass," "Faster than a runaway slave," "Forgot it, carnivore," "See if I don't slap 'em to sleep," "Sweet-ass Skittles," "Shut up," "Hood rats," "Renege again...re-nigger," "You know damn well what I'm talking about," "Smug son of a bitch," "Boody-doody," "Don't be such a girl about it," "Fool," "Sucks," "God, this kid is pathetic," "Hell you think you're doing?" "They're just talking smack," "Big (headed) ass," "Butterfinger-eating ass," "You're a hell of an artist," "Bitch" (dog), "Nasty freak," "My ass," "Oh hell no," "Stink ass," "It's the Negro Olympics," "Nut," "Loser," "You're a bad bitch," "Fat ass," "What in God's name is wrong with you?" "Show some damn respect," "Bitch, you ain't got no class," "Crazy ass be-atch," "You ain't got the balls" (followed by "King Kong ain't got the balls"), "You're the man" and "Bounce." Various bits of exaggerated behavior in the film (particularly involving Reggie) might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Reggie makes playful fun of Roscoe and the plaid pants he's wearing, doing a Yogi Bear impression while doing so. Reggie stomps down at Bianca's small dog (not trying to step on it, but to scare it away). Otis' daughter Kelly spits. Betty jokes that she and others are too much woman for one man, and slaps her clothed butt while saying that. Bianca wears a midriff-revealing top. Betty coughs out the word "bullsh*t." We see Reggie shirtless, sporting some tattoos. Betty gives "the finger" while displaying a baseball pitching command in front of her clothed crotch (as the catcher) to Clyde who's pitching. Roscoe and Clyde gamble by throwing dice. Betty scrapes her foot (removing dead skin, etc.) that's propped up on the kitchen table. Bianca shows cleavage in a strapless, midriff-revealing top. Reggie does some clothed pelvic thrusting. A person has some gold-capped teeth. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) At least one song had lyrics that we couldn't fully hear or understand, thus presenting the possibility of them potentially containing objectionable material. A song has the line, "Get your freak on." We hear the sexual lyrics to the song "Super Freak" on a car radio. A song has the line, "We'll be making love the whole night through." PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word (with another 6 bleeped out, including 1 used with "mother"), 16 "s" words, 4 slang terms for sex ("banging," "hit," "jumping bones" and "boned"), 5 for breasts ("t*tty" and "t*tties"), 1 for male genitals ("business"), 34 asses, 23 damns, 20 hells, 1 S.O.B., 7 uses of "Oh my God," 2 each of "G-damn," "God" and "My God" and 1 use each of "Good God Almighty," "Lord have mercy" and "Oh Jesus." SEX/NUDITY On Roscoe's show, one person admits that they've been "banging" another's sister, prompting the second person to punch the first. We see Bianca in a strapless outfit that shows cleavage. We see and hear Roscoe and Bianca having sex, with her vigorously moving on top of him, telling him to take her, and him screaming, making faces, and speaking gibberish. We don't see any nudity, and when she's done, she immediately gets up and gets on the treadmill for a workout (wearing exercise attire), while he's exhausted. Bianca shows a lot of cleavage. Roscoe complains about the plaid replacement pants he's forced to wear, especially about how tight they are. Bianca suggestively says, "I see that, tiger." Later, however, his mother notices the bulge in the front of his pants and comments on him having all of his "business" out in the street. Reggie suggestively flicks his tongue at the young woman with him, and they then kiss in an exaggerated fashion. We hear something about "Pimp Nasty Records." Otis jokes about Roscoe being a "metrosexual." Betty jokes that she and others are too much woman for one man, and slaps her clothed butt while saying that. Betty shows cleavage, and talks of wearing a thong to entertain men. About the old family dog and Bianca's much smaller, younger dog (and the probability of the former trying to mate with the latter), Reggie says the old dog is a "player" and "He's gonna hit her in the one that stinks and not the one that winks." Betty asks Bianca if she had to "pull your t*tties out" in an episode of her reality TV show. Betty shows cleavage again. Lucinda comments about Clyde being more interested in "jumping bones" than something else. Roscoe accuses Clyde of trying to drag him into a "penis swinging contest" (about something not related to that), with Clyde boastfully saying it wouldn't be any contest. A person says they can't believe Roscoe is still "horny" about Lucinda. Roscoe wants to fool around with Bianca, but she says the walls are too thin, with him saying that all the time he spent there, "I never got a piece of nothing." We see Reggie shirtless, sporting some tattoos, and then see that he's in just a towel, wearing a cowboy hat. About Lucinda (who isn't there), Reggie jokes, "You got a woody, don't you?" Roscoe replies that if he did, the table he's seated under would be flipped over. Reggie's girlfriend then comes out dressed like a squaw and tells him it's time to saddle up, with other innuendo, and sexual behavior is implied. A song has the line, "Get your freak on." We see Bianca in a sports bra while doing yoga, including with her spreading her legs while doing a move. When she bends completely over (leaving her clothed butt in the air), Reggie stares at that (seen in close-up), and then excitedly tells Roscoe, "You need to get her pregnant soon." Bianca shows cleavage. About a raised red mark on her forehead (from the baseball Roscoe hit that accidentally struck her there), Otis complains that Roscoe gave her a "red t*tty" on her head. Later, when Otis hits Roscoe (with the same result on his head), Otis states, "Now you and momma got matching t*tties." We hear the sexual lyrics to the song "Super Freak" on a car radio. Roscoe makes various sarcastic comments to Betty as a prison "ho" and comments on conjugal visits and such. Betty picks up some still-wrapped condoms and puts them down into her bra/cleavage. Bianca tells Roscoe that if he walks her dog, she'll do anything for him. She then stands before him, nude, holding a razor (the camera is behind him -- he's seated -- and thus blocks our full view of her, but we do see part of her bare hip). He asks if those are his initials (shaved in her pubic hair - not seen), she says she told him that (her genitals) was his, and he says, "You're a hell of an artist." He then takes the dog off so that it will do its business, but when he returns with Lucinda (who he met in the woods), Bianca is jealous. When he asks about her little project, she angrily says she shaved it off, and will do the same to him if there's a mutiny (meaning him liking Lucinda). We see Bianca's small dog mating with the older, larger family dog. She's on top, with exaggerated movement and sounds, and as we then see the horrified looks on various people's faces, the little dog is flung aside (possibly an ejaculation-related visual joke). Reggie blackmails Roscoe (about not telling Bianca that Roscoe allowed the family dog to mate with Bianca's dog) about getting the TV Roscoe bought for Papa Jenkins. Later, when Reggie acts as if he's going to spill the beans, Roscoe says he'll throw in the "platinum t*tty" and "buck-naked" channels. Reggie sneaks toward a shower, thinking it's Bianca in there, but then finds to his horror that it's Betty. She comments on him being a "nasty freak" who's trying to see her "black meat," "my treats" and more, while he comments in disgust, "Your t*tties are huge." Lucinda comments about Bianca only being famous for selling her panties. Betty then comments on her various panties, including what sounded like "period panties" and her thong. There's talk that the family dog "boned" Bianca's dog, and it's mentioned the "dog's a whore." We see a person wearing large smiley face boxers (from behind, when their pants partially fall down). Bianca shows cleavage in a strapless, midriff-revealing top. About Roscoe's earlier (nonsexual) behavior, Bianca said it made her hot in the process. Roscoe is then upset with her, saying she's sex crazed. Mama Jenkins shows a little cleavage. Lucinda shows some cleavage. We see some miscellaneous cleavage. A song has the line, "We'll be making love the whole night through." Roscoe and Lucinda do some passionate kissing on their way into a room where they find two dogs on the bed. We next see the dogs tossed out into the hallway (with implied sex between the humans, and earlier mating between the dogs). In the closing credits, there's footage of Betty on Roscoe's TV show, talking about achieving orgasms and such, with much related talk about that and her private parts. Reggie does some clothed pelvic thrusting. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Roscoe's parents haven't seen him or his son Jamaal in a long time. That's due to him not getting along with his family, including Clyde with whom he has a long-standing rivalry. Despite losing a foot race that would determine who would get to ask out young Lucinda, young Clyde does so before young Roscoe (the victor) gets the chance. Papa Jenkins is then mad at Roscoe for having a girl as the "prize" and thus belts young Roscoe as his punishment (we hear but don't see the belt to bottom impact). Clyde gets away with just a stern comment, thus making Roscoe mad. Roscoe briefly mentions Jamal's mother, saying it didn't work out between them (Roscoe and her). To defeat Clyde at a family obstacle course challenge, Roscoe leaves his son behind (when the boy needs help). That prompts others to be mad at/disappointed with him, including Papa Jenkins. Roscoe is upset, feeling he's never gotten any respect from his dad. Referring to Clyde, Roscoe says he knows he (Clyde) lost his father, but questions why he (Roscoe) lost his as well. Earlier, he commented to his dad about a boy learning on his own (referring to himself and his past). Betty mentions having had various husbands. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT People trying to escape their hometowns and/or families. Being famous. Single fathers. Competitive siblings. VIOLENCE On Roscoe's show, one person admits that they've been "banging" another's sister, prompting the second person to punch the first. Otis playfully gets Roscoe in a headlock. Some may or may not see the following as violence: Despite losing a foot race that would determine who would get to ask out young Lucinda, young Clyde does so before young Roscoe (the victor) gets the chance. Papa Jenkins is then mad at Roscoe for having a girl as the "prize" and thus belts young Roscoe as his punishment (we hear but don't see the belt to bottom impact). Roscoe hits a baseball pitch, with the ball striking his mom on the head, leaving a raised red mark there. After Roscoe taunts him, Otis punches Roscoe. Roscoe and Betty get into a physical fight, exchanging punches. He tackles her and tears out some hair, while she kicks and knocks him to the ground, pulls on his head, has him in a headlock, and repeatedly punches him, leaving him with a bloody nose and lip. Roscoe and Clyde tussle on the floor, bash into a wall, break furniture, exchange punches, and Roscoe pushes Clyde against a hot stove as they fight (played lightly on the part of the film, with lots of resultant comedic chaos). A skunk sprays Roscoe in the face, causing him to stumble and fall hard. There's some physical contact (pulling, pushing, etc.) during a family obstacle course challenge through the woods. During this, Roscoe slips and lands crotch-first on a log, followed by various people running over him, including stepping on his fingers. He also goes down a zip line, landing hard at the bottom. Reviewed January 10, 2008 / Posted February 8, 2008