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"See That?
That's Your Acting
Career Flying Away..." |
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Directed by Steve Carr -
Written by Hank Nelson
Starring Ice Cube, Nia
Long, John C. McGinley,
Aleisha Allen, Philip D.
Bolden
Distributed by Sony
Revolution Films -
2007 - 90m - Rated PG |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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I like Ice Cube. |
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I am not even remotely
bothered by the fact that the rapper who gave us such tunes as "Fuck
Tha Police" and "Express Yourself" would suddenly find himself
expressing himself through crassly commercial, sterile
family-friendly fare such as "Are We There Yet?" and the even the
title sounds awful sequel "Are We Done Yet?"
I am, however, bothered by the fact that ICE CUBE, a man of
considerable music and acting talent with a social conscience to
match, would be utterly wasted in a film so completely irrelevant,
devoid of originality and lacking in entertainment value that one
can't help but wonder why he considered it a positive career move to
begin channeling Eddie Murphy's "Pluto Nash" days.
While it is easy to admire Ice Cube's dedication to family and
desire to develop a certain degree of cross-over appeal, a film such
as "Are We Done Yet?" isn't the answer.
"Barbershop?" Not a problem. Heck, "XXX: State of the Union?" Not
even a problem. "Are We Done Yet?" Ice Cube, we have a problem.
Based very loosely upon "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House," a
not-so-classic 1948 film starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy, "Are We
Done Yet?" takes the occasionally heartwarming hi-jinx of "Are We
There Yet?" and moves forward into time with Nick (Ice Cube) and
Suzanne (Nia Long) now married and living with the two
heartwarmingly horrific kids (Aleisha Allen and Philip Bolden) with
two more on the way in a small apartment.
Do you see where this is going?
Virtually every aspect of director Steve Carr's "Are We Done Yet?"
feels incredibly forced and unnatural, unlike both the original 1948
film and Carr's "Are We There Yet?," a slight yet more entertaining
film. Whereas "Are We There Yet" had Ice Cube, still a big and burly
lookin' dude, going straight up against the two precocious kids, in
"Are We Done Yet?" Ice Cube's primary battles are against a house
and small forest animals.
In other words, the cuteness factor is just plain gone.
Hank Nelken's script borrows heavily from other dream house films,
most notably the Tom Hanks/Shelley Long vehicle "The Money Pit." Did
someone forget to tell Nelken that "The Money Pit" actually sucked,
too?
The only supporting role of any relevance belongs to John C.
McGinley ("Scrubs" and the recent "Wild Hogs"), who is
simultaneously the realtor, housing inspector and, EWWWWW!, the
midwife who will help Suzanne deliver her twins.
Creepy.
While it's impossible to not question why Ice Cube would place
himself in such a mediocre project, it's also impossible to not
acknowledge that Ice Cube is the highlight of "Are We Done Yet?"
and, despite everything, actually makes this film an occasionally
heartwarming, and even more occasionally an entertaining film. While
virtually every aspect of the film feels forced, Ice Cube manages to
elevate a film that easily could have become 2007's "Phat Girlz."
While Nia Long along with Philip Bolden and Aleisha Allen recreate
their characters, they clearly are playing second fiddle to Ice Cube
here and, with the exception of the sporadic scenes of forced
sincerity, they are given little to do beyond react to Ice Cube's
various mishaps.
McGinley, who has a naturally comical presence, is basically reduced
to being a naturally comical presence whose trademark smirk does not
constitute character development. It worked in "Wild Hogs," but in
"Are We Done Yet?" it provides further proof that this film just
doesn't have much to offer.
"Are We Done Yet?" may end up being one of the worst films of 2007,
but at least it has one of the year's most appropriate titles.
With several films opening this weekend, one can only hope that "Are
We Done Yet?" isn't rewarded with the box-office results of its
predecessor and, perhaps, when we say "Are We Done Yet?" we can
answer with a resounding "Yes!" |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
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How We Rated This Film
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TC Candler -
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| Richard Propes
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Jacob Hall
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TC Candler's Comment
n/a
Jacob Hall's
Comment
n/a
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