Johnson Family Vacation
Encyclopedia
Johnson Family Vacation is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Christopher Erskin. It stars Cedric the Entertainer
, Vanessa Williams
, Bow Wow, Gabby Soleil
, Shannon Elizabeth
, Solange Knowles
, and Steve Harvey
. The film is director Erskin's first feature film directorial project.
) and his family have been invited to their big family reunion in Missouri
. He sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with his estranged wife (Williams
) and growing children, as well as a chance to show up his wealthier know-it-all brother, Mack (Harvey
). Nate takes delivery on an expensive new SUV, persuades his recently separated wife Dorothy to tag along, and packs up his three kids — nubile teenager Nikki (Knowles
), under-age wannabe rapper D.J. (Bow Wow), and precocious seven-year-old Destiny (Soleil
) — for what he imagines will be a leisurely drive from Los Angeles
to Missouri
. However, between his wary wife, arguing kids, angry police officers, a bizarre hitchhiker (Shannon Elizabeth
), bad diner food, and an unfortunate run-in with a cement mixer, getting from point A to point B proves to be just short of a nightmare.
, making it one of the site's worst-reviewed movies of 2004
. The film has a 29% rating on Metacritic
, based on 24 reviews. The critics gave it a C- rating at Yahoo! Movies
, however, Yahoo! users gave it a higher B rating. Most critics generally believed the movie was a bland rip-off of the popular Chevy Chase
film, National Lampoon's Vacation
. One critic in particular went so far as to call the picture the worst film of the year. The film did poorly at the box office, going on to earn US$25 million in its first three weeks of release in the U.S. However the film was a success against its $12 million budget. By its closing date, September 9, 2004, the film had grossed over 31 million dollars, making almost triple its production cost.
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
, Vanessa Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
, Bow Wow, Gabby Soleil
Gabby Soleil
Gabby Soleil is an American actress. She played Adriana on The Hughleys in the 2001–2002 season, and Destiny Johnson in the 2004 comedy feature film Johnson Family Vacation...
, Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in comedy films such as Scary Movie, American Pie, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. She is also well known for her work in horror films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons...
, Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
, and Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
. The film is director Erskin's first feature film directorial project.
Plot
Nate Johnson (Cedric the EntertainerCedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
) and his family have been invited to their big family reunion in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with his estranged wife (Williams
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
) and growing children, as well as a chance to show up his wealthier know-it-all brother, Mack (Harvey
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
). Nate takes delivery on an expensive new SUV, persuades his recently separated wife Dorothy to tag along, and packs up his three kids — nubile teenager Nikki (Knowles
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
), under-age wannabe rapper D.J. (Bow Wow), and precocious seven-year-old Destiny (Soleil
Gabby Soleil
Gabby Soleil is an American actress. She played Adriana on The Hughleys in the 2001–2002 season, and Destiny Johnson in the 2004 comedy feature film Johnson Family Vacation...
) — for what he imagines will be a leisurely drive from Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. However, between his wary wife, arguing kids, angry police officers, a bizarre hitchhiker (Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth
Shannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in comedy films such as Scary Movie, American Pie, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. She is also well known for her work in horror films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons...
), bad diner food, and an unfortunate run-in with a cement mixer, getting from point A to point B proves to be just short of a nightmare.
Cast
- Cedric the EntertainerCedric the EntertainerCedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
as Nate Johnson/Uncle Earl - Bow Wow as Divirnius James 'D.J.' Johnson
- Vanessa WilliamsVanessa L. WilliamsVanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
as Dorothy Johnson - Christopher B. DuncanChristopher B. DuncanChristopher B. Duncan is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Braxton P. Hartnabrig on The Jamie Foxx Show and he is also known for playing President Barack Obama on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He portrayed Obama in the 2010 film My Name is Khan as well.Duncan received his B.F.A....
as Stan - Solange KnowlesSolange KnowlesSolange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
as Nikki Johnson - Shannon ElizabethShannon ElizabethShannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in comedy films such as Scary Movie, American Pie, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. She is also well known for her work in horror films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons...
as Chrishelle Rene Boudreau - Gabby SoleilGabby SoleilGabby Soleil is an American actress. She played Adriana on The Hughleys in the 2001–2002 season, and Destiny Johnson in the 2004 comedy feature film Johnson Family Vacation...
as Destiny Johnson - Steve HarveySteve HarveyBroderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
as Mack Johnson - Aloma WrightAloma WrightAloma Wright is an American actress. She was born in New York and raised in California.- Career :Wright was cast as Laverne Roberts for Scrubs. After six seasons, her character was killed off in My Long Goodbye. She returned in season seven playing a new character, Nurse Shirley...
as Glorietta Johnson - GodfreyGodfrey (comedian)Godfrey C. Danchimah, Jr. , professionally known as Godfrey, is an American comedian and actor who has appeared on BET, VH1, Comedy Central, and feature films such as Soul Plane, Original Gangstas, Zoolander, and Johnson Family Vacation...
as Motorcycle Cop - Jason MomoaJason MomoaJason Momoa is an American actor and model.He is known for his role as Ronon Dex on military science fiction television series Stargate: Atlantis . Most recently, he became recognized for his role as the title character in the sword and sorcery film Conan the Barbarian...
— Navarro - Jennifer FreemanJennifer FreemanJennifer Nicole Freeman is an American actress, often credited as Jennifer N. Freeman. She was born in Los Angeles, California.-Career:...
— Jill - Jeremiah "J.J." Williams Jr. — Cousin Bodie
- Lee GarlingtonLee GarlingtonAnn Leslie "Lee" Garlington is an American actress.Garlington was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. She has guest starred in a number of notable television series, including The West Wing, 7th Heaven, 8 Simple Rules, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Judging Amy, L.A...
— Betty Sue - Lorna Scott — Gladys
- Philip Daniel Bolden as Mack Jr.
- Rodney PerryRodney PerryRodney Perry is an American comedian, actor and writer. He serves as co-host on BET's The Mo'Nique Show where he provides laughs alongside comedienne Mo’Nique five nights a week.- Early life :...
— Cousin Lump - Shari HeadleyShari HeadleyShari Headley is an American actress. Headley made her acting debut on The Cosby Show in 1985. Since then her career has mostly focused on television acting; she is perhaps best known for portraying police officer Mimi Reed Frye Williams on the popular soap opera All My Children from May 1991 to...
— Jacqueline - Tanjareen MartinTanjareen MartinTanjareen Chere Martin is an American actress, producer, and radio personality. She was born and raised in Inglewood, CA. Her television credits include: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Days of our Lives, Strong Medicine, Howard Stern, The Steve Harvey Show, and City Guys...
— Tangerine
Reception
Johnson Family Vacation received generally negative reviews. It earned a 5% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, making it one of the site's worst-reviewed movies of 2004
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
. The film has a 29% rating on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, based on 24 reviews. The critics gave it a C- rating at Yahoo! Movies
Yahoo! Movies
Yahoo! Movies , provided by the Yahoo! network, is home to a large collection of information on movies, past and new releases, trailers and clips, box office information, and showtimes and movie theater information. Yahoo! Movies also includes red carpet photos, actor galleries, and production...
, however, Yahoo! users gave it a higher B rating. Most critics generally believed the movie was a bland rip-off of the popular Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
film, National Lampoon's Vacation
National Lampoon's Vacation
Vacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
. One critic in particular went so far as to call the picture the worst film of the year. The film did poorly at the box office, going on to earn US$25 million in its first three weeks of release in the U.S. However the film was a success against its $12 million budget. By its closing date, September 9, 2004, the film had grossed over 31 million dollars, making almost triple its production cost.
Awards & nominations
2004 BET Comedy Awards- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Box Office Movie — Cedric the EntertainerCedric the EntertainerCedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
(nominated) - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Box Office Movie — Vanessa WilliamsVanessa L. WilliamsVanessa Lynn Williams is an American pop-R&B recording artist, producer, dancer, model, actress and showgirl. In 1983, she became the first woman of African-American descent to be crowned Miss America, but a scandal generated by her having posed for nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine...
(nominated) - Outstanding Writing for a Box Office Movie (nominated)
Sequel
There is currently a proposed sequel for the film which is expected to be released in mid 2012.External links
- Johnson Family Vacation – Official site