Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

Synopsis

Dr. RJ Stevens/Roscoe Steven Jenkins, Jr. (Martin Lawrence, Bad Boys I & II) is a multi-millionaire talk show host who has a taste for the finer things money can buy, including his arm candy fiancé Bianca Kittles (Joy Bryant, Get Rich or Die Tryin). RJ hasn’t been home to see his Southern family in almost a decade and will get the chance with his upcoming parent’s 50^th anniversary. Even through his reluctance to go, RJ knows this may be his one chance to see his Mama and prove to his family he isn’t the scrawny little kid that never comes in first.

Review

I swear I have seen this type of movie before. Oh yes, the typical black family reunion, bickering, barbecue ribs eating, cornbread loving ensemble flick, that often sprinkles itself on the big screen in Hollywood. Writer/Director of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Malcolm D. Lee, brought us a wonderful African American film with The Best Man in 1999. This was a wonderful drama, slight comedy, romantic movie with a dynamite premise. A young talented cast of actors graced us with their intelligence, beauty, and comedic timing with a script that portrayed blacks in a positive and professional light. Now there is Welcome Home.

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm, where do I begin? This movie has a fantastic comedic cast – comedy legends such as Cedric the Entertainer (Johnson Family Vacation), Mo’Nique (Phat Girlz), and the great Martin Lawrence (umm 20 years of stuff) himself, but how many times are we going to see this over the top, melodramatic type of black film? Don’t get it twisted, I cracked up with the rest of the audience, and I was never bored however, if you aren’t from the south, you may start to think that all black women throw their big, ashy, feet up on the kitchen table and start buffing or clipping their toenails while others are cooking. Is it true to form or is it a stereotype? Either way, it's nasty, grrrlllll.

Let’s mull over the story. Dr. RJ Stevens (Lawrence), known by his countrified family as Roscoe Jenkins Jr. (wow) is a well-known and successful talk show host. With his self-ish, self-help motto “Team of Me” Roscoe is arrogant and all about himself. Roscoe has let 9 years go past without going home to see his family. This all changes when his parents (James Earl Jones and Margaret Avery) are celebrating their 50^th anniversary. You would think Roscoe would just want to see fam, but he actually thinks it would be good telivision as well. At least his gift would be a beautiful commemoration.

Roscoe thinks with his fame and sexy vegan fiancé Bianca (Joy Bryant) that he can stand tall and march on home to his siblings, father, and cousins who have treated him like a pet or a pathetic loser growing up, NOT! Roscoe is still seen by his family as the same puny and last place winner when he was a kid. Roscoe’s adult problem is he has to win. He is obsessed with winning. When his cousin Clyde (Cedric)—Roscoe's biggest childhood threat and competitor—comes rolling up looking fly and EVERYONE is ecstatic to see him, the foolishness raises up like the Phoenix rising as the two rekindle the competition. I want to mention that Betty (Mo'Nique), Roscoe’s sister doesn’t hide the fact at all that she is feeling and fancies Clyde. Kind of like the the two dogs that had a love affair and doggy-styled their way to bliss. Yes, you read it right. Even two dogs got screen time. This is the ludicrousness that is going on in this flick. And for those of you who missed the 13A bus to downtown:

1. Clyde is Roscoe's cousin
2. Betty is Roscoe's sister
3. Betty is feelin her ________
4. Yep.

Betty always came off like she needed some hot loving. She was also gangsta in this flick though—and the knots to the head get passed around.

Papa and Mama Jenkins is a lovely couple that displays an old time type of love. Fifty years of marriage, children and grandchildren is beautiful and they gracefully show that they are still in love. It was touching to watch them hold hands. They sure do have a couple of knuckle-headed kids – Betty and Roscoe. There son the Sheriff, Otis (Michael Clarke Duncan) isn’t too bad and Duncan is funny without any force. Long way from Green Mile goofiness. Just like in most families, regardless of age, Otis still shows Roscoe who is bigger and older when he socks Roscoe in the eye (he deserves it). Roscoe has the quandary of running his mouth too much, and gets pounded on by big sis and big bro at separate times. Rounding out the crew is cousin Reggie (MIke Epps) with some of the funniest scenes as usual.

As you can see this is a character movie. Welcome Home isn’t some award-winning movie, but it isn’t written to be. You have Martin Lawrence as lead actor. It’s animated, silly, and fun. I had a good old time with this film. Don’t get upset if you don’t like or get the humor. It is what it is. Just laugh. It does tighten the abdominal muscles.

My Rating ~ 3 Reels

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