Well, 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!

Roscoe 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.

This 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.

Successful 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