Stars: Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, Margaret Avery, Cedric The Entertainer, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Earl Jones, Louis C. K., Nicole Ari Parker, Mo'Nique, Joy Bryant

Director: Malcolm D. Lee

Summary: R.J. Stevens (aka Roscoe Steven Jenkins), a Hollywood self-help sensation whose fame has netted him a reality television star fiancee while simultaneously alienating his young son. Having been away from his family for nine years, prodigal son R.J. returns to Georgia to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents.

Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence (BAD BOYS, BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE) aims for the heartstrings and funny bones in WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS, a raucous helping of family soul food. Lawrence plays R.J. Stevens (in truth, Roscoe Steven Jenkins), a Hollywood self-help sensation whose fame has netted him a reality television star fiancée (Joy Bryant) while simultaneously alienating his young son. Having been away from his family for nine years, prodigal son R.J. returns to Georgia to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of his parents (James Earl Jones and Margaret Avery). Upon his arrival, R.J. is given a rude awakening by his none-too-impressed siblings (Mike Epps, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Mo'Nique). R.J. must also contend with his ultra-competitive cousin Clyde (Cedric the Entertainer), the family's presumptive 'goden boy' and a long-time rival who stole the affections of R.J.'s childhood sweetheart, Lucinda (Nicole Ari Parker).
As the celebration weekend rolls on, R.J.'s craving for his father's respect and an inflated sense of self threaten family harmony and his opportunity to reconnect with Lucinda, and--worst of all--his relationship with his own son. Lawrence makes Roscoe a genuinely sympathetic foil to the comedic antics of Mo'Nique and Epps, both of whom are given room to riff by director Malcom D. Lee (UNDERCOVER BROTHER, ROLL BOUNCE). Frequently bawdy but thoroughly entertaining, WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS is also a warmhearted reminder that you are where you come from, and that when searching for yourself no one can put you straight better than a loving family.

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While its story might sound terribly interesting, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins is largely a vehicle for gross-out sight gags and grotesque performances by performers 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. Written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother), Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins promises rich comedy and dramatic flavourings, 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

Main Language:	English
Year:	2008
Release Date:	May 30, 2008
Runtime:	114 minutes
Certification:
Keywords:	Home, English, Comedy, General, Welcome, Jenkins, Roscoe
Genre:	Comedy