It was bad enough when Martin Lawrence humiliated himself in such noxious comedy hits as "Big Momma's House," "National Security" and "Wild Hogs."
But now "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" sees Lawrence dragging down such talents as James Earl Jones, Michael Clarke Duncan and Margaret Avery with him.
Seeing them slum in this alternately gooey and annoying comedy is painful, and strangely Lawrence tries to play the straight man here. (He leaves much of the comic heavy lifting to co-stars Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps and Mo'Nique.)
Lawrence stars as Roscoe Stevens, also known as RJ Stevens, a television talk-show host who's become a success with his self-help advice (think Dr. Phil). RJ is engaged to reality television star Bianca (Joy Bryant) and things seem to be going well between them.
However, RJ's relationship with his young son, Jamaal (Damani Roberts), is considerably less successful.
So, hoping to reconnect with the boy, RJ reluctantly agrees to return to Georgia for his parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Instead of spending quality time with his son, though, RJ renews his childhood rivalry with his cousin Clyde (Cedric the Entertainer).
RJ also resumes his flirtations with his longtime crush, Lucinda (Nicole Ari Parker), who's come to the Jenkins family reunion/anniversary party with Clyde.
Screenwriter/director Malcolm D. Lee ("Roll Bounce") takes too much time developing comic situations, and has to rush to wrap up the main story line in about 15 minutes.
And in Lawrence, he has a lead man who isn't particularly likable or sympathetic.
But perhaps the worst thing about the movie is that the irksome character played by alleged comedienne Mo'Nique never gets her much-deserved comeuppance.
"Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" is rated PG-13 for strong sexual language (sexual references and slang, as well as one R-rated curse word), other sexual and bodily function humor, supposedly comic violence (brawling, fisticuffs, athletics-based mayhem and violence against women), simulated sex and other sexual contact (animal and human), racial epithets, and brief drug references (mostly to steroids). Running time: 114 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com