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Movies / On DVD / First Sunday
First Sunday

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First Sunday (2008)

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Reviews Counted:73

Fresh:10

Rotten:63

Average Rating:3.7/10

Consensus: First Sunday may have its heart in the right place, but its funny bone is dislocated.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for language, some sexual humor, and brief drug references.

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Jan 11, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $37,931,869

Synopsis: David E. Talbert makes his directorial debut with this comedy about Durell (Ice Cube) and LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan), childhood friends with a knack for getting into trouble. Despite his continual bad... David E. Talbert makes his directorial debut with this comedy about Durell (Ice Cube) and LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan), childhood friends with a knack for getting into trouble. Despite his continual bad decisions, Durell gets one thing right: he's a good father to his adolescent son. When he learns that the boy's mother, his ex-girlfriend, Omunique (Regina Hall), needs $17,000 to buy her beauty shop or she'll leave Baltimore and move to Atlanta, he's determined to get her the money to keep his son in his life. Meanwhile, LeeJohn needs big money fast to pay off some bad guys. Durell and LeeJohn decide that the collection plate of their local church holds the answer to their money woes. But their attempt to rob the church is foiled in progress: the money is already missing, and the would-be burglars didn't realize there would be people at the church. Finding themselves with a group of parishioners and choir members at their mercy, Durell and LeeJohn have to make some decisions about exactly what kind of men they want to be. FIRST SUNDAY also makes a statement about the role of the church in urban areas and its importance within the community. Keith David is Deacon Randy, who has grandiose plans for moving the church to a "less urban" neighborhood. Chi McBride stars as Pastor Mitchell, and Malinda Williams is his strong-willed daughter, Tianna, who wants First Hope Community Church to stay right where it is and expand its services. Loretta Devine is Sister Doris, the parish secretary and foster mother with a heart of gold. Ice Cube and Morgan have good rapport as the bickering buddies, with Morgan's silliness providing loads of comic relief, but Katt Williams is the scene-stealer as Rickey, the flamboyant choir director with something to say about everything and everyone. [More]

Starring: Ice Cube, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan, Loretta Devine

Starring: Ice Cube, Katt Williams, Tracy Morgan, Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Keith David, Regina Hall, Malinda Williams, Chi McBride

Director: David E. Talbert

Director: David E. Talbert
Screenwriter: David E. Talbert
Producer: David E. Talbert, David McIlvain, Tim Story, Ice Cube, Matt Alvarez
Composer: Stanley Clarke
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Release:

May 6, 2008

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • 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.
  • Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for First Sunday

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    61 - 73 (sorted by date)
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    As tired as First Sunday is, and as shamelessly as it grovels for laughs, there's a hint of sweetness, and [director] Talbert clearly has a feel for Baltimore, where most of it was affectionately shot.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Ann Hornaday
    Ann Hornaday
    Washington Post

    ...didn't pry so much as a giggle from my lips until 42 minutes in...

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Andy Klein
    Andy Klein
    Los Angeles CityBeat

    The film somehow ends with religious conversions that leave out any mention of the Almighty.

    Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Jason Anderson
    Jason Anderson
    eye WEEKLY

    This heist comedy has a hackneyed introduction, and its feel-good ending lacks credibility, but the big, funny chunk in the middle marks writer-director-producer David E. Talbert as a talent to watch.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Andrea Gronvall
    Andrea Gronvall
    Chicago Reader

    While not all of the jokes work (in fact, some of them misfire badly), there are enough low-key chuckles to retain a light tone.

    Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    James Berardinelli
    James Berardinelli
    ReelViews
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    First Sunday pits the street against the church, but somehow affable mediocrity wins the day.

    Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Nathan Rabin
    Nathan Rabin
    AV Club

    In addition to the faulty premise, which effortlessly lends itself to writer / director David E. Talbert's preachy agenda, the movie just plain isn't funny.

    Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Bill Clark
    Bill Clark
    FromTheBalcony

    David E. Talbert's frenetically unfunny comedy about two losers who attempt to rob a church. Doesn't have a prayer.

    Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Joe Lozito
    Joe Lozito
    Big Picture Big Sound

    ...isn't really funny until it turns sentimental at the end.

    Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
    01/10/08
    Josh Larsen
    Josh Larsen
    Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

    On the basis of First Sunday, it would seem writer-director David E. Talbert has been keeping close tabs on the creative recipe for success concocted by Tyler Perry.

    Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
    01/09/08
    Nick Schager
    Nick Schager
    Slant Magazine

    Morgan butchers me every time with that overemphatic- delivery thing that makes incidental lines multiplex-leveling funny.

    Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
    01/08/08
    Nick Pinkerton
    Nick Pinkerton
    Village Voice

    A near-claustrophobic comedy that manages to be both predictable and preachy.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    01/07/08
    Brian Lowry
    Brian Lowry
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It plods along at a sluggard's pace through a weak premise with crude execution and even cruder characters to arrive at an unearned sentimental ending.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
    01/04/08
    Kirk Honeycutt
    Kirk Honeycutt
    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
    61 - 73 (sorted by date)
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