Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

AAA can't help the roadside emergency that is the JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION. Even the on-board navigation system has a meltdown on Nate Johnson and his family's cross-country trek to their ... See full summary »

Director:

Christopher Erskin

Writers:

Todd R. Jones, Earl Richey Jones

Stars:

Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, Bow Wow

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Nate Johnson / Uncle Earl
Vanessa Williams	...	Dorothy Johnson
Solange Knowles	...	Nikki Johnson
Bow Wow	...	D.J. Johnson
Gabby Soleil	...	Destiny Johnson
Shannon Elizabeth	...	Chrishelle Rene Boudreau
Steve Harvey	...	Mack Johnson
Aloma Wright	...	Glorietta Johnson
Shari Headley	...	Jacqueline
Jennifer Freeman	...	Jill
Philip Bolden	...	Mack Jr. (as Philip Daniel Bolden)
Rodney Perry	...	Cousin Lump (as Rodney B. Perry)
Christopher B. Duncan	...	Stan
Lorna Scott	...	Gladys
Kevin P. Farley	...	Stall Guy (as Kevin Farley)

Storyline

AAA can't help the roadside emergency that is the JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION. Even the on-board navigation system has a meltdown on Nate Johnson and his family's cross-country trek to their annual family reunion/grudge match. Reluctantly along for the ride are Nate's wife, who's only in it for the kids; their rapper-wannabe son; their teenage daughter who's fashioned herself as the next Lolita; and their youngest, whose imaginary dog Nate just can't seem to keep track of. Can the Johnsons survive each other and all the obstacles the road throws at them to make it to Caruthersville, Missouri? Can they find Missouri?

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Plot Keywords:

cross country | family relationships | on the road | highway travel | roadtrip | 

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Taglines:

Take the ride.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references, crude humor and brief drug material

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arrivano i Johnson

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$37,804 (South Africa) (9 July 2004)

Gross:

$31,179,516 (USA) (13 August 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, Hallway Pictures, Bird and a Bear Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Solanges Knowles' (Beyoncé Knowles' sister) makes an ad lib reference to her sister during a cell phone conversation in her first scene of the movie. Her character's little sister in the movie is named "Destiny" an obvious reference to her sister's former group Destiny's Child.

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Goofs

When Stan shows up, as they're leaving, as Dorothy opens her car door you can see a cameraman reflected in the side mirror.

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Quotes

Nate Johnson: So, Where did you meet him? at so called accounting class?
Dorothy Johnson: so that's what this all about huh? me becomming a CPA?i thought we settled that argument when i moved out
Nate Johnson: oh so i'm the bad guy? because i wanted you to raise our kids
Dorothy Johnson: I can be a wife, a mother and pursue my career too, hey, my mother did it
Nate Johnson: [laughs] rite,yeah thats why the last time we saw you brother he was your sister
[starts to sing]
Nate Johnson: Young man there's a place you can go

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Connections

References Duel (1971)

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Soundtracks

"Take Your Time (Do It Right)"
Written by Sigidi Abdulla and Harold Clayton
Performed by The S.O.S. Band
Courtesy of Avant Garde Enterprises, Inc.

User Reviews

TERRIBLE

This is by far the worst movie I have ever seen. Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey are both very talented people but in this film there is nothing funny about their performances.

Basic Plot is this. Nate Johnson with his wife and 3 children set out on a road trip for a family reunion. As with any road trip movies, something has to happen to make us laugh. Believe me, whatever happens in this film, is not funny at all. It is more of a "what the hell was I thinking renting this film". Anyway, at the end they get to the reunion but by this time I truly didn't care. I would think it'd be funnier if they never made it there... Now, that would get me some laughs. So, we are forced to sit through this so called family gathering only to see two brothers, Nate and Mac, go for the trophy.

Here is a list of my problems with this film:

1) Why drive 3 days to the reunion and 3 days back just to be there for 2 hours??? Nate Johnson drives a Lincoln Navigator ($50,000 SUV by the way) but yet he can't afford to buy plane tickets for 5 people?

2) Several subplots never get developed... such is the example of Shannon Elizabeth's character. Johnsons pick her up on the road and end up getting her a hotel room??? What was the purpose? Nate is with his family, there obviously can't be any hanky-panky, then why even bother with this scene?

3) Why was Uncle Earl not invited to the reunion??? He is an uncle, after all. Other reunion members were never introduced as well.

Overall, the movie seemed to be missing its overall premise. Well, I hope they got someone to buy one of those Lincolns.