Johnson Family Vacation Movie Review 2004

Slapdash road comedy will have viewers whining miles before the end, "Are we there yet?" At a crisp 97 minutes, that is no easy feat but one managed with uninspired, corny dialogue, and not one ounce of originality as the Johnson family, headed by patriarch Nate (Cedric the Entertainer) hit the road in search of a decent premise...er, family reunion in Missouri. Recently separated from wife Dorothy (Williams), Nate hopes the trip with their three children (Bow Wow, Knowles, and Soleil) will bring them closer together and hopefully snatch the coveted reunion "family of the year" trophy from regular winner Mack (Harvey), Nate's older bro. Cedric's natural charisma somewhat elevates this washed-out "Vacation."

Distribution

Fox Home Entertainment, PO Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213, Phone: (310)369-3900, Toll-free: 888-223-4FOX, Fax: (310)369-5811, URL: http://www.foxmovies.com/index1.html, Remarks: Also known as Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Available on DVD
Running time 97 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Slapstick Comedy, Reunited, Road Trip, African America, Brothers & Sisters, Family Comedy, Urban Comedy

Screenplay

Todd R. Jones, Earl Richey Jones

Cast

Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa L(ynne) Williams, Bow Wow, Steve Harvey, Solange Knowles, Shannon Elizabeth, Aloma Wright, Shari Headley, Jennifer Freeman, Lee Garlington, Gabby Soleil, Philip Daniel Bolden, Rodney B. Perry, Christopher B. Duncan

Cinematography

Shawn Maurer, Shawn Maurer

Director

Christopher Erskin

Music

Richard Gibbs, Richard Gibbs

Other

Kurupt, Walter Anderson, Dave Jordan, John Carter, Liba Daniels, Dana Campbell, Keith Brian Burns

Producer

Paul Hall, Eric C. Rhone, Cedric the Entertainer, Wendy Park, Hallway Pictures, A Bird and a Bear Entertainment, Fox Searchlight, 20th Century-Fox