Themes: Breakups and Divorces, Parenthood, Nothing Goes Right
Main Cast: Cedric the Entertainer, Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, Solange Knowles, Bow Wow, Gabby Soleil
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Comedian Cedric the Entertainer serves as both producer and star of this comedy about a family who discovers just how much can go wrong en route to a family get-together. When Nate Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer) is invited to a big family reunion in Missouri, he sees it as an opportunity to reconnect with his estranged wife and growing children, as well as a chance to show up his wealthier know-it-all brother, Mack (Steve Harvey). Nate takes delivery on an expensive new SUV, persuades his recently separated wife, Dorothy (Vanessa L. Williams), to tag along, and packs up his three kids -- nubile teenager Nikki (Solange Knowles), under-age wannabe rapper D.J. (Bow Wow), and precocious seven-year-old Destiny (Gabby Soleil) -- for what he imagines will be a leisurely drive from Los Angeles to St. Louis. However, between his wary wife, arguing kids, angry police officers, bizarre hitchhikers, 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. Johnson Family Vacation was the first feature film for director Christopher Erskin, who previously distinguished himself directing music videos for the likes of Missy Elliot, TLC, and Boyz II Men. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Shannon Elizabeth - Chrishelle; Steve Harvey - Mack Johnson; Aloma Wright - Glorietta Johnson; Lee Garlington - Betty Sue; Shari Headley - Jacqueline; Lorna Scott - Gladys; Chris Hardwick - Arson Investigator; Masasa - Theta #1; Jonathan Joss - Casino Host; Godfrey Danchimah - Motorcycle Cop; Jennifer Freeman - Jill; Kurupt - Kurupt; DeRay Davis - Jamaican Stoner; Jason Momoa - Navarro; Tanjareen Martin - Tangerine; Kevin Farley - Stall Guy; Philip Daniel Bolden - Mack Jr.; Chana Ylahne Orr - Theta #2; Lichelli Lazar-Lea - Navi Computer Voice; Christopher B. Duncan - Stan; Shane Woodson - Angus; Gabriel Corbin - Dancer #1/"Mack Johnson"; Tracie Burton - Dancer #2/"Jacqueline"; Katerina Graham - Dancer #3/"Jill"; Jamil Morgan - Dancer#4/"Mack Jr."; Jeremiah "J.J." Williams Jr. - Cousin Bodie; Rodney Perry - Cousin Lump
Credit
Liba Daniels - Art Director, Douglas Shamburger - Boom Operator, Reuben Cannon - Casting, Kim Williams - Casting, Vanessa Williams - Choreography, Marguerite Derricks - Choreography, Earl Richey Jones - Co-producer, Todd R. Jones - Co-producer, Julian Petrillo - First Assistant Director, Kelly Cantley - First Assistant Director, Christopher Erskin - Director, Anna Foerster - Second Unit Director, John Carter - Editor, Andrew Sugerman - Executive Producer, Fay Kelly - Hair Styles, Jim McCabe - Location Manager, Richard Gibbs - Composer (Music Score), Dave Jordan - Musical Direction/Supervision, Jojo Villanueva - Musical Direction/Supervision, Kate Best - Makeup, Eric D. Andersen - Camera Operator, Pernell Youngblood Tyus - Camera Operator, Tommy Lohmann - Camera Operator, Joaquin Sedillo - Camera Operator, Gary Camp - Camera Operator, Michael R. Lohmann - Camera Operator, Keith Brian Burns - Production Designer, Shawn Maurer - Cinematographer, Anna Foerster - Cinematographer, Paul Hall - Producer, Cedric the Entertainer - Producer, Eric C. Rhone - Producer, Wendy Park - Producer, William J. Law III - Set Designer, Walter Anderson - Sound Mixer, Tom Ozanich - Sound/Sound Designer, Bennie Moore - Stunts, Gene Walker - Stunts, Merritt Yohnka - Stunts, Wally Crowder - Stunts, Norman Howell - Stunts, Cole McKay - Stunts, Carla Earle - Stunts, Mark Hicks - Stunts, Tony Brubaker - Stunts, Henry Kingi, Jr. - Stunts, Leo Creer Jr. - Stunts, Dartenea Bryant - Stunts, April Weeden-Washington - Stunts, Hollis Hill - Stunts, Randolph Le Roi - Stunts, Angela Meryl - Stunts, Anita Hart - Stunts, Kim Washington - Stunts, Eric Chambers - Stunts, Harry Adolph - Stunts, Bruce Allen - Stunts, Frederick Randolph Brooks Jr. - Stunts, Alex A. Brown - Stunts, Satori Folkes-Stone - Stunts, Joey Gardner - Stunts, Jermaine T. Holt - Stunts, Mia Roberts - Stunts, John Vitale - Stunts, Taj Whitt-Ordone - Stunts, William Washington - Stunts Coordinator, Leigh Shanta - Unit Production Manager, Richey Jones - Screenwriter, Earl Richey Jones - Screenwriter, Todd R. Jones - Screenwriter, Daniel Villarreal - Production Assistant, Keala Asato - Production Assistant, Keisha Banks - Production Assistant, Payton Spence Ewing - Production Assistant, Loren Schneider - Production Assistant, Drew McKeen - Visual Effects Supervisor, Stevie Ramone - Visual Effects Supervisor, Robin Trickett - Visual Effects Supervisor, Ben Wilkins - Sound Effects Editor, Karen Vassar - Sound Effects Editor, Jon I. Meter - Sound Effects Editor, Dave Williams - Sound Effects Editor, Bear McCreary - Additional Music, Sheri Apap - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Brockett's Film Fauna - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Jim Brockett - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Guin Dill - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Mark Jackson - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Paws for Effects - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Debbie Pearl - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Stephanie Purdy - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Cassandra O. Butcher - Unit Publicist, Craig Hayes - Additional Editing, David Nowell - Aerial Photography, Richard Brooks Burton - Aerial Photography, Dana Campbell - Creature Design, Mike Vejar - First Assistant Camera, Daniel E. Teaze - First Assistant Camera, Keith Davis - First Assistant Camera, Marc Brown - First Assistant Camera, Richard A. Mention III - First Assistant Camera, John Stradling - First Assistant Camera, Kelly Clear - Gaffer, Jeremy Launais - Gaffer, Marion Jackson - Grip, Danny Brazen - Grip, Steven Cardarelli - Grip, Dave Ellis - Grip, Scott Wells - Grip, Darwin Montana Browne - Key Grip, Chris Leidholdt - Key Grip, Sherry Whitfield - Music Editor, Scott Stambler - Music Editor, Linda Warrilow - Production Coordinator, Lisa Kearsley - Production Supervisor, Kevin J. Long - Properties Master, Druann Carlson - Script Supervisor, Alicia Accardo - Script Supervisor, Denise Karey - Script Supervisor, Nandi Bowe - Second Assistant Director, Xochi Blymyer - Second Assistant Director, Marty Bresin - Special Effects Coordinator, Tommy Lohmann - Steadicam Operator, Michael R. Lohmann - Steadicam Operator, Sidney Baldwin - Still Photographer, Greg Hedgepath - Supervising Sound Editor, Deb Millison - Costume/Wardrobe, Bob Deschaine - ADR Mixer, Ron Bedrosian - ADR Mixer, Tami Treadwell - ADR Recordist, Julio Carmona - ADR Recordist, Ned Shapiro - Assistant Location Manager, David A. Foster - Assistant Location Manager, Rod Bacote - Assistant Location Manager, Jude S. Walko - Assistant Production Coordinator, Kim Larsen - Assistant Properties, A. "Iggy" Scarpitti - Best Boy Electric, Chris Culliton - Best Boy Electric, Gerald "Craig" Harris - Best Boy Grip, David Levich - Best Boy Grip, Denise Ciarcia - Buyer, Katie Bogner - Camera Loader, Betty Chow - Camera Loader, Sammi Mendenhall - Casting Associate, Kimberly Foster - Casting Associate, Peter Olexiewicz - Construction Coordinator, Sharon Sampson - Costumes Supervisor, Daniel S. Irwin - Dialogue Editor, Kimberly McCord-Wilson - Dialogue Editor, Roberto "Bobnice" Arredondo - Dolly Grip, J. Chuck Biagio - Dolly Grip, Brian Smith - Dolly Grip, Marek Bojsza - Electrician, Sean M. Ginn - Electrician, Felix A. Rivera - Electrician, Tim Speed - Electrician, Alex Schmidt - Electrician, Christopher Gray Casting - Extra Casting, Nicholas Tsiotsias - First Assistant Editor, Laura Ridner - First Assistant Editor, Mark Tuminello - First Assistant Editor, Timothy Farrell - Foley Editor, Dave Harris - Greensman, David Tully - Greensman, Rahimah Yoba - Key Costumer, Jasmine Kimble - Key Hairstylist, Barbara Augustus - Key Make-up, Johnny "Go Go" Gomez - Leadman, Reid Russell - Second Assistant Camera, Kenny Bazal Jr. - Second Assistant Camera, Matt Guiza - Second Assistant Camera, Chris Slany - Second Assistant Camera, Wilfred J. Killian - Second Second Assistant Director, Staci Lamkin - Second Second Assistant Director, Brendan C. Fenton - Set Dresser, Charles Canzoneri - Set Production Assistant, Amanda Crockett - Set Production Assistant, Chris "Fish" Shadley - Set Production Assistant, Gregg Alberg - Set Production Assistant, Suni Ali - Set Production Assistant, Jennifer Noble - Set Production Assistant, Latasha Prothro - Set Production Assistant, Florian Schura - Set Production Assistant, Craig Vegas - Set Production Assistant, Reginald Hendrix - Storyboard Artist, Sundog Films Inc. - Visual Effects, Ernie Bishop - Set Decorator, Bobbi Banks - ADR Supervisor, Jennifer L. Hamilton - Assistant Choreographer, Tim Anderson - Assistant Choreographer, Anthony M. McCovey - Cable Person, Robert Webb - Construction Foreman, Carey Milbradt - Foley Mixer, Michael Lyle - Foley Walker, Gary Burritt - Negative Cutter, Alan Purwin - Pilot, Tim Ball - Production Secretary, Apryl Hill - Set Medic/First Aid, James Maddux - Set Medic/First Aid, Bill O'Neal - Set Medic/First Aid, Dale Ettema - Special Effects Foreman, Jeff Bresin - Special Effects Technician, Mark Pallatt - Swing Gang, D. Rocky Polito - Swing Gang, Mike Suhy - Swing Gang, Richard Ryder - Swing Gang, Glenn Cannon - Video Assist, Jesse Olivares - Video Assist, Barbara Harris - Voice Casting, Alexa Marino - Art Department Coordinator, Kimberly Kimble - Department Head Hair, John G. Cannon - First Assistant Sound Editor, Keith Cooper - 3D Compositor, Penny Anderson - 3D Compositor, Kent Ing - 3D Compositor, Jay Maher - 3D Compositor, Andrew Szerszen - 3D Compositor, Jason Paolone - Painter (digital), Jesse Siono, Jr. - Painter, Anna Marie O'Connell - Painter, Jorge Suarez - Painter, Robert Kurtzman - Puppeteer, Robert Derry - Puppeteer
Nate Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer) 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.
Reviews were generally poor for the film. It earned a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes[2], making it one of the sites worst-reviewed movies of 2004. At Metacritic, the film was given a 29% rating by the critics, and received 23% from Users.[3] The critics gave it a C- rating at Yahoo! Movies[4], 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 however go on to earn a $25 million USD take in its first three weeks of release in the U.S., which made the $12 million dollar picture a success. By its closing date, September 9, 2004, the film had grossed over $31 million dollars, making nearly triple its production cost in profit.
In the film Bow Wow enters into the Sat nav, Los Angeles,California to Caruthersville,Missouri. The Sat nav responds saying that the journey distance is 1883.9 miles however the correct distance between the two destanations is 1,872 miles
