The movie has all the hallmarks of a disaster.
Are We There Yet? (2005)
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Reviews Counted:113
Fresh:13
Rotten:100
Average Rating:3.3/10
Consensus: This supposed family comedy staring the usually blameless Ice Cube and Nia Long has provoked most critics to write, “Is it over yet?”
Theatrical Release:Jan 21, 2005 Wide
Box Office: $82,301,521
Synopsis: Ice Cube stars in this highly entertaining family comedy as Nick Persons, a thirtysomething player with a new Lincoln Navigator, who checks out every fine lady that passes by the window of the... Ice Cube stars in this highly entertaining family comedy as Nick Persons, a thirtysomething player with a new Lincoln Navigator, who checks out every fine lady that passes by the window of the sports collectibles store where he works with pal Marty (Jay Mohr). Decked out in all the latest bling, Nick confidently approaches his latest attraction, Suzanne, only to learn that she is a recent divorcee with two kids. Little does he know, Suzanne's children are no ordinary kids. Lindsey and Kevin (Aleisha Allen and Philip Bolden) go to extremes to keep their mom single. Putting his dislike for children on the back burner, Nick decides to pursue Suzanne anyway. He soon realizes though, that the only way to a single mother's heart is through her children. So when Suzanne needs a babysitter to transport her kids from Portland to Vancouver, Nick jumps at the chance. Getting way more than he bargained for, Nick must survive 24 hours with two kids bent on destroying him, not to mention missed flights, missed trains, run-ins with wildlife and crazed truckers, and severe car trouble. Nick challenges himself to survive the journey better than his SUV, and learns that while trying to prove himself to Suzanne, he also impresses himself. Demonstrating his softer side, rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube (FRIDAY, BARBERSHOP) shows a flair for slapstick humor in this pleasing family picture. While humorous moments abound, ARE WE THERE YET? also tackles some serious issues. Director Brian Levant (SNOW DOGS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY) adds to his resume another fun-filled film that will have the whole family laughing. [More]
Starring: Nia Long, Ice Cube, Philip Daniel Bolden, Aleisha Allen
Starring: Nia Long, Ice Cube, Philip Daniel Bolden, Aleisha Allen, Jay Mohr, Tracy Morgan, M.C. Gainey, Nichelle Nichols
Director: Brian Levant
Director: Brian Levant
Screenwriter: Claudia Grazioso, Steven Gary Banks
Producer: Ice Cube, Matt Alvarez, Dan Kolsrud
Composer: David Newman
Studio: Columbia Pictures
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Reviews for Are We There Yet?
At first glance, such emasculation humor seems a depressing departure for the erstwhile Amerikkka's Most Wanted.
At first glance, such emasculation humor seems a depressing departure for the erstwhile Amerikkka's Most Wanted.
Ice Cube is the best thing about the movie, but he has to work hard to overcome the inadequacies of this dreadful screenplay.
The humor is typified by the painfully unfunny recurring gag that has a bobble-head doll of Satchel Paige (voiced by Tracy Morgan) giving life and love advice to Nick. The late baseball great deserves better than that -- and so do audiences.
Ice Cube has let so many of his hard edges melt off that he can't even manage a decent tantrum here.
Delivers on some pretty basic childhood fantasies -- chiefly, kids seeing themselves in control, and watching adults in comical pain. And it does it too quickly and competently for their grown-up chaperones to mind much.
The kids finally soften Cube's heart (and vice versa), get Mom to see past his scowl and into his kind heart, and become a wholesome unit that makes this a distastefully fit and formulaic family film.
Shows children behaving in ways that go right to the edge of absolute evil, and who are snotty and charmless besides. At the same time, the movie demands that we should feel warm toward those kids after all.
The answer to Are We There Yet? is, yes, we are there -- in comedy hell.
Cube is genuinely charming, but even he can't elevate the proceedings above the coarse sensibilities of Brian Levant, whose niche is directing boorish, noisy children's pictures.
We've got stereotypes-a-go-go: Raging redneck truckers. Accented Asians. Country bumpkins. Black fathers missing in action. The humor's a tad too raunchy for the kids, and the predictable plot won't win over any of the parents.
Phony and formulaic from start to finish, the movie may make some viewers feel as if they're trapped in a car themselves with a driver who won't pull over.
I would have loved to see a genuine love story involving Ice Cube, Nia Long, and the challenge of a lifelong bachelor dating a woman with children. Sad that a story like that couldn't get made, but this shrill 'comedy' could.
Latest News for Are We There Yet?
August 05, 2008:
Jackie Chan Is The Spy Next Door ![]()
Jackie Chan has signed on to star in The Spy Next Door, an action comedy from Relativity Media. Brian Levant is set to direct. More...
January 08, 2008:
Ice Cube Joining John Singleton's A-Team?
John Singleton has officially signed on to direct the A-Team movie -- and Ice Cube, for one, wholeheartedly approves. More...
April 05, 2007:
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March 29, 2006:
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Variety reports on a new comedy project starring the lovely Ms. Lucy Liu. It's called "Beautiful Asian Brides," and it's a project that's been bouncing around... More...
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