Main Cast: LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Loretta Devine, Anthony Anderson, Whoopi Goldberg
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Based on the play Dearly Departed by David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones (who also penned this screenplay), this new comedy from the director of Jason's Lyric looks at a family gathering after one of their clan dies of a stroke. In the midst of a sweltering summer, the Slocumb family convenes. They include Charisse (Jada Pinkett Smith), the long-suffering, frustrated wife of philandering Junior (Anthony Anderson); there's also the Bible-spouting Marguerite (Loretta Devine), who prays to save her hard-living son Royce (Darius McCrary) from a life on welfare. Lucille (Vivica A. Fox) is the devoted family peacekeeper who is struggling with a money-grubbing funeral director, and her husband Ray Bud (L.L. Cool J) has major contempt for his family and wishes he were burying them instead. Kingdom Come also features Cedric the Entertainer as an intestinally challenged reverend and Whoopi Goldberg as the family matriarch. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
Review
African-American ensemble films -- at least, those not directed by Spike Lee, John Singleton, or the Hughes -- have often been automatically dismissed, compartmentalized as having little appeal beyond their target audience. But when one comes along that offers more characters than caricatures, like Kingdom Come, it should not be casually overlooked. This particular ensemble is filled with young and unexpectedly rich talent, overseen by veteran Whoopi Goldberg in the passive role of the sage widow, a shepherd stepping aside to admire her flock. Several performers who made their names in other fields -- such as LL Cool J, Cedric the Entertainer, and Toni Braxton -- show surprising subtlety and natural ability. The more seasoned professionals are the ones who sometimes edge toward the outrageous, particularly Jada Pinkett Smith as an unruly mother with an unfaithful husband and too many rugrats. But first-time director Doug McHenry does a good job reigning them in, unwilling to lose his film to any extant pressures toward going slapstick. Even with a conventional story full of the usual conflicts, one can sense the dialogue (by playwrights Jessie Jones and David Dean Bottrell, who wrote the source material) steering clear of the most obvious avenues, crediting the characters rather than undercutting them. In its best moments, Kingdom Come even approaches a version of The Big Chill, with the funeral serving not only as a catalyst for confrontations among a dysfunctional clan, but a clear window into a character. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Toni Braxton - Juanita Slocumb; Cedric the Entertainer - Reverend Hooker; Darius McCrary - Royce; Richard Gant - Clyde; Masasa - Delightful; Dominic Hoffman - Antoine Depew; Patrice Monscell - Merline Depew; Clifton Davis - Charles Winslow; Kellita Smith - Bernice; Aloma Wright - Veda; Tamala Jones - Lady #2; Ellen Cleghorne - Lady #1; Natalie Wilson - Lady #3; Sandra Nicole Shepherd - Lady #4; Tamala J. Mann - Lady #2; Tony Paul - Tiny; Chuck Campbell - Pedal Steel Player
Credit
Bruton Jones - Art Director, Gary A. Theard - Boom Operator, Robi Reed-Humes - Casting, Frank Macchia - Conductor, Hester Hargett - Co-producer, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck - Costume Designer, James Alan Hensz - First Assistant Director, Doug McHenry - Director, Richard Halsey - Editor, The EFX Shop - Editor, Lawrence Turman - Executive Producer, Rochelle Bates - Executive Producer, Warren Lewis - Hair Styles, Carla Joi Farmer - Hair Styles, Deborah Whitlock - Hair Styles, Sean Smith - Hair Styles, Pamella D'Pella - Location Manager, Tyler Bates - Composer (Music Score), Derrick L. Wade - Musical Direction/Supervision, Kirk Franklin - Songwriter, Beverly Jo Pryor - Makeup, Judy Murdock - Makeup, Barbara Augustus - Makeup, Chris Hayes - Camera Operator, David E. Diano - Camera Operator, Simon Dobbin - Production Designer, Francis Kenny - Cinematographer, Edward Bates - Producer, John Morrissey - Producer, Karen Agresti - Set Designer, Marcos Alvarez - Set Designer, Erwin M. Cukurs - Set Designer, Shelley A. Wallace - Set Designer, George S. Vrattos - Special Effects, Russell Williams II - Sound Mixer, The EFX Shop - Sound/Sound Designer, Russell Williams II - Sound/Sound Designer, Carlton L. Russell - Stunts, William Washington - Stunts, Eric Mansker - Stunts, Big Daddy - Stunts, Wayne Kelsee - Stunts, Kelsee L. King-Devoreaux - Stunts, Debbie Jones - Stunts, Dana Woods - Stunts, Tony Brubaker - Stunts Coordinator, Hester Hargett - Unit Production Manager, Paul Curtis - Dialogue Writer, John Stuver - Dialogue Writer, Jessie Jones - Screenwriter, David Dean Bottrell - Screenwriter, David Daniels - Production Assistant, Mark Cheatham - Unit Publicist, Beauman Curry & Co. Public Relations - Unit Publicist, Paul Curtis - Additional Editing, John Stuver - Additional Editing, Jeffrey S. Lorenz - First Assistant Camera, Adam R. Sklena - First Assistant Camera, Gary Tandrow - Gaffer, Adam Chambers - Gaffer, Benny Beaird - Key Grip, Brian Richards - Music Editor, Bruno Roussel - Music Editor, Steven Lionetti - Production Coordinator, Scott Buckwald - Properties Master, Ken Teaney - Re-Recording Mixer, Marshall Garlington - Re-Recording Mixer, Chris David - Re-Recording Mixer, Benita Brazier - Script Supervisor, Melissa V. Barnes - Second Assistant Director, Michael Orlowski - Sound Effects Director, Stephen P. Robinson - Sound Effects Director, David Esparza - Sound Effects Director, Gary P. D'Amico - Special Effects Coordinator, D. Stevens - Still Photographer, Andrew DeCristofaro - Supervising Sound Editor, Matthew C. Beville - ADR Mixer, Chad Blinman - ADR Recordist, Alysia D. Allen - Art Department Assistant, Jessica Olsen - Art Department Assistant, Earl West - Assistant Location Manager, Karen E. Gilbert - Assistant Location Manager, Donova Terranova - Assistant Location Manager, David Clark - Assistant Properties, George Lozano - Best Boy Electric, Mike Apperson - Best Boy Grip, Kimberley Rosenberg - Buyer, Val Sklar - Camera Loader, Cydney McCurdy - Casting Associate, A. Doran Reed - Casting Associate, Bill Iiams - Construction Coordinator, Jeff Kunkel - Dolly Grip, Christopher Ahern - Electrician, Jon Haney - Electrician, Jacobus Marcus - Electrician, Ralph Sanders - Electrician, Bill Dance Casting - Extra Casting, Gayle Sandler - First Assistant Accountant, Gregg Barbanell - Foley Artist, Joan Rowe - Foley Artist, Sean Rowe - Foley Artist, Laura Macias - Foley Artist, Nancy Nugent - Foley Editor, Lanette Little - Key Costumer, Alexander Kirst - Leadman, David Daniels - Post Production Assistant, Steven R. Timinskas - Production Accountant, Afshin A. Shahidi - Second Assistant Camera, Tracy Allen Davey - Second Assistant Camera, Paula Smith - Second Second Assistant Director, Wayne R. Witherspoon - Second Second Assistant Director, Roger Knight - Set Dresser, Byron Maesmichael - Set Dresser, Murphy David Storm - Set Dresser, Bartholomew R. Sullivan II - Set Dresser, Eric J. Luling - Set Dresser, Kayce Brownw - Set Production Assistant, Alex Korp - Set Production Assistant, Tracey Wilson - Storyboard Artist, Karen Agresti - Set Decorator, Jessie Jones - Play Author, David Dean Bottrell - Play Author, Harvey Cook - Video Assist, Julia Walker - Department Head Hair
Kingdom Come is a story of an African-American family (the Slocumbs), living in the Los Angeles suburbs, who come together after the death of a family member, whom no one seems to remember with much fondness. It is based on the Broadway play Dearly Departed.
First, there's Woodrow "Bud" Slocumb, the man in question, whose wife, Raynelle (Whoopi Goldberg), is pretty nonchalant about his death from a stroke. Then there's Ray Bud (LL Cool J), a recovering alcoholic who has a problem with seeing his father dead because of their rocky relationship. His wife, Lucille (Vivica A. Fox), is a loving, devoted housewife who goes out of her way to make sure that everyone has everything they need. But she can't have the one thing she wants out of life: a child. Next, Junior (Anthony Anderson) has blown all of his money on a failed invention, and his loud-mouthed wife Charisse (Jada Pinkett Smith) is no help. She hits the roof after his infidelity and reminds him often that she could have been married to his rich lawyer cousin. There's Marguerite (Loretta Devine) a pious, overbearing mom who usually calls her son "Demon Seed"; she fears that he will end up in jail like his brother. Her son Royce (Darius McCrary) is an unemployed worker and a gang-related person who gets mad at his mother when she attempts to tell him how to live his life.
Performed by Kirk Franklin and Jill Scott Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music Kirk Franklin appears courtesy of GospoCentric Records Jill Scott appears courtesy of [[Hidden Beach Recordings
Performed by Bobby Jones and the Nashville Super Choir Courtesy of GospoCentric Records
"Every Woman" - Written by Kirk Franklin
Performed by Az Yet Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music
"Stand" - Written by Kirk Franklin
Performed by Shawn Stockman Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music Shawn Stockman appears courtesy of Universal Records
"God's Got It All In Control" - Written by Kurt Carr
Performed by Kurt Carr and friends featuring Tamela Mann from The Family Produced by Kurt Carr for Kurt Carr Productions/GospoCentric Records Kurt Carr, Yvette Williams and Tamela Mann appear courtesy of GospoCentric Records
Performed by Deborah Cox Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music Deborah Cox appears courtesy of J Records LLC
"Daddy's Song" - Written by Kirk Franklin
Performed by Carl Thomas, Natalie Wilson and SOP Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music Carl Thomas appears courtesy of Bad Boy Records Natalie Wilson and SOP appear courtesy of GospoCentric Records
"Try Me" - Written by Kirk Franklin
Performed by the cast with Ashley Guilbert, Shanika Leeks and Candy West
"Try Me" - Written by Kirk Franklin
Performed by Tamar Braxton and One Nation Crew Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music Tamar Braxton appears courtesy of DreamWorks Records One Nation Crew appears courtesy of B-Rite Music
"Thank You" - Written by Kirk Franklin
Performed by Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary Produced by Kirk Franklin for Fo Yo Soul Productions/B-Rite Music Mary Mary appears courtesy of Columbia Records Kirk Franklin appears courtesy of GospoCentric Records
