Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Separated from his wife, Nate Johnson wants to make amends with her and spend time with his kids, finding the perfect chance for bonding in a cross- country trip to a family reunion. Convincing them all to join in on the journey, Nate takes his family on a trek from California to Missouri, but they encounter various strange situations and eccentrics along the way, which will make it a once in a lifetime vacation....Whenever I see a film starring Cedric The Entertainer, I know i'm not going to get anything life affirming or game changing, what i'm going to get is a ninety minute film that I can put on whilst i'm pottering round my house.And that's exactly what this is, a loose remake of Vacation, but nowhere near as iconic as that classic.So the family get arrested, mistaken identity ensues, we see Nate run around the hotel foyer naked, have trouble with his family, Jason Momoa pretending to be a native Indian, and Shannon Elizabeth in a very strange role as a potential psycho.It's never funny, but it's harmless fun, and although a lot of the characters are atypical to this kind of film, Cedric The Entertainer is an endearing screen presence, because he doesn't really go over the top when his character comes under great duress.Imagine Martin Lawrence in the lead role. Now that sounds like a holiday from hell.Great if you want some background noise, or have a hangover.

"Johnson Family Vacation" could have been so much more than what it turned out to be, especially because it had a lot of potential, and all opportunities were right there. But director Christopher Erskin just failed to utilize the potential of the movie and the acting talents to the fullest.The story in this 2004 comedy is about the Johnson family traveling cross country in order to get to a grand family reunion. But the family is met with one obstacle after another along the way, and things get more and more out of hand.There were a lot of situations which in the movie which could have been so much better with more comedy elements added. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that it is a boring movie or anything. It is adequate for what it was, just a shame that it wasn't fully utilized. For instance, the hot tub scene was one situation which could have proved to be hilarious, but its potential was just briefly skimmed and it ended up as a somewhat flat scene.And even more odd was it that with a cast list that included Cedric the Entertainer and Vanessa Williams, Christopher B. Duncan and Steve Harvey that they didn't get more out of the movie. I guess that the talents were perhaps inhibited by the script and the director.For a family vacation movie, then "Johnson Family Vacation" pales in comparison to the "National Lampoon Vacation" movies - you know, the ones with Chevy Chase.All in all, then "Johnson Family Vacation" is an adequate comedy movie and can easily be watched if you are looking for something somewhat funny and that requires absolutely no brain activity.

I don't understand the bad reviews on this movie, I think it is a silly lighthearted comedy about Family. It is not meant to be to serious, and will give You a few chuckles here and there. I thought the casting for this movie was subpar, far from outstanding but the actors did the best with what they were given. The script is lacking is some places along with the storyline, I feel that more could have been done with the film, it has a lot of potential. The Child characters are charming, but the Adults act a bit ridiculous for my taste. This is a nice film for Young children under the age of about 13 to watch, I feel that age range would enjoy it more than an older teen or Adult. If You look close enough the Movie does have good morals and values, while also offering light entertainment.

I expected this film to be bad, and it met my expectations. You can clearly see the effort of the filmmakers and the actors to be funny, but it just comes off as annoying. The jokes are lame. I found it difficult to merely smile. Cedric should stick to stand-up. As for Bow Wow and Solange, who told them that they could act? It's amazing this ever got made. I would have rather spent my time at the library reading up on capital punishment. Obnoxious, unfunny, just a very long headache. Exaggeration to the point of excess (even over-the-top stuff can get too ridiculous), it's just not worth it. Save your money and your dignity. Rent The Kings of Comedy instead, where Cedric shows how funny he really is.