USA, 2004
Director: Brian Levant
Score: *

Smooth operator Nick (hip-hop artist Ice Cube) drives kids Kevin (Philip Daniel Bolden) and Lindsey (Aleisha Sllen) from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver in his new SUV in order to win a date from foxy mother Suzanne (Nia Long).  The trouble is that the children will do all in their power from letting their mother get hitched to another guy.

The plot is ideal for an entertaining family comedy to be enjoyed by all ages. There is room for hilarious high jinx, moral values to be learnt and perhaps some great music and songs. Perhaps ARE WE THERE YET? is destined to be a well-made all time classic.

NOT!! Unless the filmmakers decide to do away with the film’s director and writers after the first two minutes!  Director Brian Levant (of unmemorable comedies like THE FLINTSTONES and BEETHOVEN) and the four (??) writers get it all wrong. Rude humour (puke and ***censored*** jokes), language (the mother f***er word, almost) and stupidity appear to be the order of the day. The kids are made to be an asthmatic and a karaoke expert in order to win over the viewers. The most insightful line comes from Ice Cube after he takes one glimpse of Nia Long and says: “I think I’m in love.”

I only laughed once and the children at the promo screening were smart enough not to find the film funny either.  The final result is a film in which the audience can ask this one question:  “Have we laughed yet?”

Review by Gilbert Seah.