Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan are two thieves who haven't got a prayer in
First Sunday, a sinfully, funny comedy co-starring Katt Williams and Chi McBride. Sentenced to 5,000 hours of community service, Durell Jefferson's (Cube) life quickly goes from bad to worse. Realizing that the Lord helps those who help themselves, he eventually decides to help himself to the neighborhood church's building fund. Accompanied by his dimwitted partner-in-crime LeeJohn (Morgan), the two down-on-their-luck men are dismayed to discover the cash has already been stolen, so they hold the congregation hostage in a Hail Mary attempt to learn who amongst the righteous has already run away with their loot! Also starring Tiffany New York Pollard, Rickey Smiley, Loretta Devine and Malinda Williams.Ice Cube continues his winning streak as a likeable everyman in family movies with
First Sunday, an ! initially silly, disposable comedy that picks up emotional power and authenticity by the second act. Cube plays ne’er-do-well Durell, an out-of-work Baltimore dad who needs over $17,000 to keep his ex from taking their son with her to Atlanta for good. Desperate to raise the cash but hamstrung by his self-defeating attitude and the criminal antics of his goofy sidekick, LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan), Durell gives in to temptation and decides he and LeeJohn should rob a church. The crime goes badly when it turns out a number of parishioners are in the building at the time, and a hostage situation develops. Events take a twist when the would-be thieves become the beneficiaries of Christian charity and forgiveness from the men and women they’ve kidnapped, and a bigger criminal is revealed in the congregation’s mix. A terrific supporting cast including Michael Beach, Chi McBride, Keith David, Malinda Williams, Loretta Devine, and Katt Williams bring strong humor and dignity to t! he film’s latter half, compensating for some unpleasant miss! teps (a pointless scene at a massage parlor) earlier in the story. Writer-director David E. Talbert is especially sharp during a spirited, gospel performance scene, which simply crackles on screen.
--Tom KeoghIce Cube and Tracy Morgan are two thieves who haven't got a prayer in
First Sunday, a sinfully, funny comedy co-starring Katt Williams and Chi McBride. Sentenced to 5,000 hours of community service, Durell Jefferson's (Cube) life quickly goes from bad to worse. Realizing that the Lord helps those who help themselves, he eventually decides to help himself to the neighborhood church's building fund. Accompanied by his dimwitted partner-in-crime LeeJohn (Morgan), the two down-on-their-luck men are dismayed to discover the cash has already been stolen, so they hold the congregation hostage in a Hail Mary attempt to learn who amongst the righteous has already run away with their loot! Also starring Tiffany New York Pollard, Rickey Smiley, Loretta Devine and Malinda Wil! liams.Ice Cube continues his winning streak as a likeable everyman in family movies with
First Sunday, an initially silly, disposable comedy that picks up emotional power and authenticity by the second act. Cube plays ne’er-do-well Durell, an out-of-work Baltimore dad who needs over $17,000 to keep his ex from taking their son with her to Atlanta for good. Desperate to raise the cash but hamstrung by his self-defeating attitude and the criminal antics of his goofy sidekick, LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan), Durell gives in to temptation and decides he and LeeJohn should rob a church. The crime goes badly when it turns out a number of parishioners are in the building at the time, and a hostage situation develops. Events take a twist when the would-be thieves become the beneficiaries of Christian charity and forgiveness from the men and women they’ve kidnapped, and a bigger criminal is revealed in the congregation’s mix. A terrific supporting cast including Michael Beach, ! Chi McBride, Keith David, Malinda Williams, Loretta Devine, an! d Katt W illiams bring strong humor and dignity to the film’s latter half, compensating for some unpleasant missteps (a pointless scene at a massage parlor) earlier in the story. Writer-director David E. Talbert is especially sharp during a spirited, gospel performance scene, which simply crackles on screen.
--Tom KeoghMartin Lawrence leads an all-star cast, including Cedric the Entertainer, Mo'Nique, and Mike Epps, in the hit comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins. When a celebrated TV show host (Lawrence) returns to his hometown in the South, his family is there to remind him that going home is no vacation! It's one outrageous predicament after another when big-city attitude and small-town values collide in this hysterical comedy critics are praising for its "over-the-top hilarity!" (Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel)While its story might sound terribly interesting,
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is largely a vehicle for gross-out sight gags and grotesque performances by perfo! rmers who, in many cases, don't need to do such things. Martin Lawrence stars as R.J. Stevens, a successful, Jerry Springer-like, television talk show host who sets aside his perfect life with a sweet son (Damani Roberts) and celebrity girlfriend (Joy Bryant) to attend his parents' golden wedding anniversary back home in Georgia. From the moment he arrives, all the reasons R.J. left to reinvent himself on the West Coast become clear. His siblings and cousins (Mike Epps, Mo'Nique, Michael Clarke Duncan, Cedric the Entertainer) quickly put him in his place, reminding him that his name is actually Roscoe Jenkins. His sweet mother (Margaret Avery) watches impassively while R.J.'s dad (James Earl Jones) strikes one disapproving note after another. R.J. would be content to wait out the anniversary events and go home, but the arrival of a woman (Nicole Ari Parker) he loved but couldn't keep during his adolescence changes everything, bringing out the competitive survivor within. Wr! itten and directed by Malcolm D. Lee (
Undercover Brother), W elcome Home Roscoe Jenkins promises rich comedy and dramatic flavorings, as well as a bunch of delightful actors doing what only they can do best. But Lee subverts the project for cheap and easy laughs, using his best material to do little else than bridge scenes of bad slapstick, bestial perversity, clownish sex and irritating, motormouth rants from the likes of Mo'Nique and Epps. This a hard movie to sit through at 114 minutes, one of those what-were-they-thinking-when-they-made-this films. --Tom Keogh
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Stills from Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (Click for larger image) Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 10/05/2010Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan are two thieves who haven't got a prayer in
First Sunday, a sinfully, funny comedy co-starring Katt Williams and Chi McBride. Sentenced to 5,000 hours of community service, Durell Jefferson's (Cube) life quickly goes from bad to w! orse. Realizing that the Lord helps those who help themselves, he eventually decides to help himself to the neighborhood church's building fund. Accompanied by his dimwitted partner-in-crime LeeJohn (Morgan), the two down-on-their-luck men are dismayed to discover the cash has already been stolen, so they hold the congregation hostage in a Hail Mary attempt to learn who amongst the righteous has already run away with their loot! Also starring Tiffany New York Pollard, Rickey Smiley, Loretta Devine and Malinda Williams.Ice Cube continues his winning streak as a likeable everyman in family movies with
First Sunday, an initially silly, disposable comedy that picks up emotional power and authenticity by the second act. Cube plays ne’er-do-well Durell, an out-of-work Baltimore dad who needs over $17,000 to keep his ex from taking their son with her to Atlanta for good. Desperate to raise the cash but hamstrung by his self-defeating attitude and the criminal antics of hi! s goofy sidekick, LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan), Durell gives in to t! emptatio n and decides he and LeeJohn should rob a church. The crime goes badly when it turns out a number of parishioners are in the building at the time, and a hostage situation develops. Events take a twist when the would-be thieves become the beneficiaries of Christian charity and forgiveness from the men and women they’ve kidnapped, and a bigger criminal is revealed in the congregation’s mix. A terrific supporting cast including Michael Beach, Chi McBride, Keith David, Malinda Williams, Loretta Devine, and Katt Williams bring strong humor and dignity to the film’s latter half, compensating for some unpleasant missteps (a pointless scene at a massage parlor) earlier in the story. Writer-director David E. Talbert is especially sharp during a spirited, gospel performance scene, which simply crackles on screen.
--Tom KeoghFran Drescher, Charles Shaughnessy, Daniel Davis, Lauren Lane, Nicholle Tom, Benjamin Salisbury, Madeline Zima, and Renee Taylor star in this hilariou! s sitcom about the nanny with the face from Vogue and the voice from Queens. This DVD collection includes all 24 episodes from the first season of this hilarious show. Fran Drescher stars in her defining role as street-smart Fran Fine, a diva down-on-her-luck who finds herself hired for a job she never even applied for! Now, she's the nanny for a rich, sophisticated family in Manhattan, and when this blue-collar girl from the block moves in with the blue blood, widowed Broadway producer and his three children, comedy is red hot!Sony brings to DVD the first season of this one-of-a-kind sitcom starring Fran Drescher as the warm-hearted, nasal-voiced nanny from Queens who lands a job caring for three children of a wealthy, widowed Broadway producer from Manhattan. During the show’s six-year run (1993-1999), Drescher dazzles as Fran Fine in a role she created and developed (as writer and producer in several episodes) and obviously relishes, whether she’s flirting, whining, ! sparring, or showcasing her sensational wardrobe. The three-di! sc colle ction features 22 episodes beginning with "The Pilot," when Fran knocks on the Sheffield’s door and is mistakenly hired as their new nanny, establishing the show’s shtick of "blue collar meets blue blood." Immediate chemistry between Nanny Fine and Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy, "Days of Our Lives") fuels the storylines while the sarcastic repartee of Sheffield’s assistant, C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane) and Niles the Butler (Daniel Davis) further ignites the entertainment. Season highlights include "The Butler, the Husband, the Wife, and Her Mother," when the family enters a parallel universe in a hilarious turn of events; and "Imaginary Friend," the season’s turning point where Drescher’s physical comedy (inspired by Lucille Ball) is given free reign. Celebrity guests include Carol Channing, Cloris Leachman, and Patti LaBelle (in the finale). Don’t miss the bonus material: a heartwarming "making-of" retrospective with the cast, and Drescher’s audio comme! ntary during "I Don’t Remember Mama." Mild profanity and sexual innuendo. (Ages 12 and older)
--Lynn Gibsondvd
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