Just saw Mel Gibson in Edge of Darkness, but can't write about it until Friday. In the meantime, here is another movie that get more and more convoluted as it goes on.
Are We There Yet?
Release Date: January 21
Director: Brian Levant
Starring: Ice Cube, Nia Long, and Jay Mohr
Rating: PG
Back in the early 90's, when Ice Cube was a member of Gangsta Rap pioneers N.W.A., few would have imagined he would be involved in Hollywood, let alone starring in a cutesy family film. But that's exactly where we find Cube now, playing what would have been the "Chevy Chase role" in the 80's, or the "Ben Stiller role" in the late 90's. (The hapless good guy, who befalls tragedy after tragedy for our amusement)
Cube plays Nick, a ladies man in his own mind, who falls for Suzanne (Nia Long, who spends the entire film looking annoyed), a divorced mother of two. While Suzanne's work keeps her busy in Canada for New Year's Eve, her kids are supposed to spend the holiday with their Father. But when he bails at the last second Nick offers to drive the kids to Vancouver from Portland, Oregon.
Having never liked any of the men their mom has dated, the rugrats immediately begin making Nick's life a living hell, and Cube is reduced to being the fall guy for two Home Alone rejects (Aleisha Allen and Philip Bolden) who are some of the worst child actors in recent memory. Haley Joel Osment and Dakota Fanning, you have nothing to worry about.
One thing that left me scratching my head is Nick's constant companion, a Satchel Paige bobblehead that only Cube can hear. Yes, you read that correctly, a talking bobblehead - voiced by frequent Cube collaborator John Witherspoon, who makes the most of the lame groaners he throws at the audience. This CGI sidekick seemed out of place in the film, and frankly, made absolutely no sense. (How come only Cube can hear him talk? Is Cube HIGH the whole film?)
What's really disappointing is Cube has turned in good work in the past, most notably in John Singleton's influential Boyz N The Hood and of course the modern comedy classic Friday. (Rent it now if you haven't seen it.) But Are We There Yet? feels like the script was thrown together after a boardroom full of Hollywood consultants came up with the title. The movie is too long, ultra-sugary, and worse of all, just not funny.
Ice Cube's debut solo album was 1990's Amerikkka's Most Wanted. He's going to need a better script if he's going to become Amerikkka's Sweetheart.
Tomorrow: Million Dollar Baby
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