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Johnson Family Vacation

EMAILPRINTFox Searchlight Pictures

Johnson Family Vacation reviews
29
2.3 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 24 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 3 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy

Written by: Todd R. Jones
Earl Richey Jones

Directed by: Christopher Erskin

Release Date:
Theatrical: April 7, 2004
DVD: August 10, 2004

Running Time: 96 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG-13 for some sexual references, crude humor and brief drug material

Starring Cedric the Entertainer, Lil' Bow Wow, Shannon Elizabeth, Steve Harvey, Vanessa L. Williams, Solange Knowles, Gabby Soleil, and Shari Headley

Nate Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer) sets out on a cross-country trek from California to Missouri, with three unruly kids and one unsatisfied wife in tow, in order to attend the Johnson clan's annual reunion/grudge match. Not since the Griswolds headed to California has a family excursion veered so hysterically astray. (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

60

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

An easygoing, earthy comedy that's a good showcase for the robust comic gifts of Cedric the Entertainer.

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50

USA Today Claudia Puig

Too bad first-time director Christopher Erskin, who cut his teeth on music videos and commercials, took so many predictable turns on this Vacation.

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50

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The movie itself is genial and unfocused and tired.

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50

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

I'd like to believe I could watch ­Cedric the Entertainer all day long. The tedious comedy Johnson Family Vacation puts a strain on that theory.

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50

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Mild in both humor and impact, this well-cast comedy should provide welcome diversion during the holidays for audiences looking for a somewhat lighter experience than the crucifixion of Christ or the massacre at the Alamo.

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50

Variety Brian Lowry

Mostly squanders some very gifted performers. Guided by a slapdash script, this vehicle for Cedric the Entertainer is tantamount to embarking on a cross-country journey without a map, making the ride predictably uneven.

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42

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Strands Cedric the Entertainer behind the wheel and forces him to motor a collection of laugh-and-learn wacky situations by sheer force of his outsize charm.

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40

LA Weekly Scott Foundas

The picture shows vital signs only in a few scenes where Cedric takes on the additional role of his own lecherous uncle, but it's too little too late.

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40

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Feels more like a grueling road trip in search of a family comedy.

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40

TV Guide Angel Cohn

For most of the film, Cedric seems to be holding back, though his relationship with genuinely charming rapper-turned-actor (Lil') Bow Wow offers up a few funny moments.

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40

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Cedric the Entertainer is the best (and probably only) reason to take this "Vacation."

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38

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

If laughs are the currency of any comedy, then this one pays minimum wage and, worse, makes you work damn hard even for that pittance.

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38

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Lame.

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38

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

Boring, mediocre movie.

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38

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Apart from Williams' presence, director Christopher Erskin's feature debut isn't worth the price of submission. It's not a road trip; it's a road trap.

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30

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

It's a sign of trouble when watching a movie prompts nostalgia for the movie it's ripping off, particularly when that movie wasn't any good. But walking out of Johnson Family Vacation, it's hard not to feel misty-eyed for the urine-soaked-sandwich gags, incest jokes, and other refined comic elements of "National Lampoon's Vacation."

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30

Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek

The direction on Johnson Family Vacation is numbingly slack; the synapses between the scenes don't spark effortlessly, as they should, and the whole enterprise feels dragged-down and belabored.

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25

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

Nearly a scene-for-scene rip-off of "National Lampoon's Summer Vacation" -- where the only substantive change from the original is a reversed travel route.

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25

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

You won't see a single joke here you haven't encountered before, all in funnier forms.

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25

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

Tired and glib, it tries to milk humor from the sniping, sass and simple disrespect of its unpleasant traveling companions.

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20

Village Voice David Ng

The movie contains exactly two chuckle-worthy moments.

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20

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

As arduous to watch as your neighbor’s poorly focused vacation slides.

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12

Chicago Tribune Allison Benedikt

Johnson Family Vacation is simply a bad trip.

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10

Dallas Observer Robert Wilonsky

The entire enterprise was directed by first-timer Christopher Erskin like a would-be Max Bialystock; one can only assume it's supposed to be this bad, because nobody sucks this hard on accident.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 2.3 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jaspar C. gave it a2:
This film was really crap. I really think Cedric isn't that funny at all, and the jokes were all very forced. The plot was bad too. I saw this on the plane, so I'm glad I didn't waste my money going to the theatre for it.

Kyle gave it a 3:
The catch is: don't watch it!

Ryan H. gave it a 2:
This movie is an hour and a half of predictable crap. I laughed a couple of times at the jokes, but most of the time I laughed at how corny it was. Unless you just have nothing else to do I would not go see this.

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