Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

Director:

Christopher Erskin

Writers (WGA):

Todd R. Jones (written by) &
Earl Richey Jones (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Wrong turn in Arizona. No brakes in Colorado. Arrested in Kansas. It's the ultimate family trip.

Plot:

AAA can't help the roadside emergency that is the JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION. Even the on-board navigation...

Plot Keywords:

Cross Country | Family Relationships | On The Road | Highway Travel | Roadtrip

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

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)
Lee Garlington	...	Betty Sue
Shane Woodson	...	Angus
Jason Momoa	...	Navarro
DeRay Davis	...	Jamaican Stoner
Jonathan Joss	...	Casino Host
Godfrey	...	Motorcycle Cop (as Godfrey Danchimah)
Kurupt	...	Kurupt
Masasa Moyo	...	Theta #1 (as Masasa)
Chana Ylahne Orr	...	Theta #2
Chris Hardwick	...	Arson Investigator
Gabriel Corbin	...	Dancer #1 / "Mack Johnson"
Tracie Burton	...	Dancer #2 / "Jacqueline"
Kat Graham	...	Dancer (as Katerina Graham)
Jamil Morgan	...	Dancer #4 / "Mack Jr."
Jeremiah 'J.J.' Williamson	...	Cousin Bodie
Tanjareen Martin	...	Tangerine
Lichelli Lazar-Lea	...	Navi Computer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timothy Anderson	...	Associate choreographer (uncredited)

Directed by
Christopher Erskin

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd R. Jones		(written by) &
Earl Richey Jones		(written by)

Produced by
Cedric the Entertainer	....	producer
Lawrence Grey	....	production executive
Paul Hall	....	producer
Earl Richey Jones	....	co-producer
Todd R. Jones	....	co-producer
Eric Rhone	....	producer (as Eric C. Rhone)
Andrew Sugerman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Al Eaton
Richard Gibbs

Cinematography by
Jeff Barnett
Shawn Maurer

Film Editing by
John Carter

Casting by
Reuben Cannon
Kim Williams

Production Design by
Keith Brian Burns

Art Direction by
Liba Daniels

Set Decoration by
Ernie Bishop

Costume Design by
Dana Campbell

Makeup Department
Barbara Augustus	....	key makeup artist
Kate Best	....	makeup artist: Ms. Williams
Lisa Buford	....	stylist: Cedric the Entertainer
Debra Denson	....	makeup department head
Fay Kelly	....	hair stylist: second unit
Jasmine Kimble	....	key hair stylist
Kimberly Kimble	....	hair department head
Joanetta Stowers	....	additional makeup artist
Phyllis Williams	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
Lisa Lynn Kearsley	....	production supervisor: second unit
Leigh Shanta	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Xochi Blymyer	....	second assistant director: second unit
Nandi Bowe	....	first assistant director: second unit
Nandi Bowe	....	second assistant director
Kelly Cantley	....	first assistant director: second unit
Anna Foerster	....	second unit director
Julian Petrillo	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Michael A. Casey	....	set dresser
Denise Ciarcia	....	buyer
Brendan C. Fenton	....	on-set dresser
John A. Gomez	....	leadman
Maria Higgins	....	props
Kim Larsen-Santini	....	assistant property master (as Kim Larsen)
William J. Law III	....	set designer
Kevin Long	....	property master
Kevin J. Long	....	property master
Alexa Marino	....	art department coordinator
Peter Olexiewicz	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Walter Anderson	....	production sound mixer
Bobbi Banks	....	supervising adr editor
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
John Bires	....	sound engineer
John Cannon	....	first assistant sound ediotr
Julio Carmona	....	sound recordist
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	adr editor
Tim Farrell	....	foley editor
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Glueck	....	audio engineer (as Jeffrey M. Glueck)
Greg Hedgepath	....	supervising sound editor
Daniel S. Irwin	....	dialogue editor
Tony Lamberti	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kimberly R. McCord-Wilson	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly R. McCord)
Anthony M. McCovey	....	second boom operator
Jon Mete	....	sound effects editor
Carey Milbradt	....	foley editor
Carey Milbradt	....	foley mixer
Tom Ozanich	....	sound designer
Douglas Shamburger	....	boom operator
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Tami Treadwell	....	adr recordist
Ben Wilkins	....	sound editor
David Young	....	audio engineer (as David M. Young)
Keren Falkenstein	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Bresin	....	special effects technician
Martin Bresin	....	special effects director (as Marty Bresin)
David A. Poole	....	special effects
Jake Valdez	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Penny Anderson	....	visual effects artist
Greg Astles	....	digital compositor
Keith Cooper	....	visual effects
Chris Hudzieczko	....	digital compositor
Kent Ing	....	digital effects artist
Drew McKeen	....	visual effects supervisor
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist
Stevie Ramone	....	2D supervisor
Stevie Ramone	....	digital compositor
Robin Trickett	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Bruce E. Allen	....	stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts
Dartenea Bryant	....	stunt double: Lil' Bow Wow
Carla Earle	....	stunts
Anita Hart	....	stunt double: Shannon Elizabeth
Hollis Hill	....	stunts
Henry Kingi Jr.	....	stunts
Randolph LeRoi	....	stunt double: Steve Harvey
Angela Meryl	....	stunt double: Vanessa Williams
Kiera Washington	....	utility stunts
William Washington	....	stunt coordinator
April Weeden	....	stunt double: Vanessa Williams/Solange Knowles (as April Weeden-Washington)
Taj Whitt-Ordone	....	stunt performer
Bill Willens	....	precision driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric D. Andersen	....	camera operator
Ken Bazal	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
J. Chuck Biagio	....	dolly grip
Katie Bogner	....	camera loader
Darwin Montana Browne	....	key grip
Glenn Cannon	....	video assistant operator
Betty Chow	....	film loader
Jeff Comfort	....	hot head technician
Keith B. Davis	....	first assistant Steadicam
Anna Foerster	....	cinematographer: second unit
Sean Ginn	....	electrician
Matt Guiza	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mario Jackson	....	grip
Jeremy Launais	....	gaffer
Chris Leidholdt	....	rigging key grip
David Levich	....	best boy grip
Michael Lohmann	....	camera operator
Tommy Lohmann	....	Steadicam operator
Melanie Mander	....	additional photographer
Richard A. Mention III	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Reid Russell	....	assistant camera
Aaron Iggy Scarpitti	....	best boy electric
Chris Shadley	....	video assistant utility
Pernell Youngblood Tyus	....	camera operator
Kelly Clear	....	chief lighting technician: second unit (uncredited)
Jesse Olivares	....	additional video assistant operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Amy Carty	....	casting secretary
Aisha Coley	....	casting executive
Kimberly Foster-McCollum	....	casting associate (as Kimberly Lenae Foster)
Chris Gray	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Conan Castro Jr.	....	costumer
Dianne Kennedy	....	costume supervisor
Sharon Sampson	....	costume supervisor
Kenya Ware	....	on-set costumer

Editorial Department
Kealakekua Asato	....	editorial production assistant
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production coordinator: Modern VideoFilm
Craig Hayes	....	associate editor
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Nicholas 'Nikko' Tsiotsias	....	assistant editor
Mark Tuminello	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Celeste Chada	....	music licensing
Martin Christensen	....	score coordinator
Gordon Fordyce	....	score mixer
Gordon Fordyce	....	scoring engineer
Dave Jordan	....	music supervisor
Bear McCreary	....	composer: additional music
Eric Speier	....	composer: additional music
Dexter Story	....	music coordinator
Jojo Villanueva	....	music coordinator
Sherry Whitfield	....	music editor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael W. Broomer	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
David Travis Grieb	....	production driver
Rita Lundin	....	transportation
Mike Riportella	....	transportation captain
Wayne Williams	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach
Gregg Alberg	....	set production assistant
Sheri Apap	....	animal trainer
Rod Bacote	....	assistant location manager
Tim Ball	....	production secretary
Kelvin Bland	....	assistant: Cedric the Entertainer
James J. Burke	....	clearances assistant
Cassandra Butcher	....	unit publicist
Robert Cable	....	first assistant accountant
Amanda Crockett	....	set production assistant
Rob Derry	....	puppeteer
Guin Dill	....	animal trainer
Ava DuVernay	....	promotional services
Payton Spence Ewing	....	office production assistant
David A. Foster	....	location manager: second unit
Jennifer Hamilton	....	assistant choreographer
Apryl Hill	....	medic
Wesley Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Hall
Dave Kasubowski	....	key craft service
Paul Kenney	....	first assistant accountant
Arif S. Kinchen	....	adr actor
Lichelli Lazar-Lea	....	assistant: Mr. Erskin
Kimberly Logan	....	assistant: Cedric the Entertainer (as Kim Logan)
James E. Maddux	....	set medic
Melanie Mander	....	script supervisor
Todd A. Marks	....	computer/video playback supervisor
Michael Miller	....	second assistant accountant
Khanya Mkhize	....	adr voice group
Jennifer Noble	....	set production assistant
Allen 'Biff' Petty	....	office production assistant
Sunni-Ali Powell	....	set production assistant (as Suni Ali)
Tasha Prothro	....	set production assistant
Alan D. Purwin	....	helicopter pilot
Danielle Robertson	....	assistant: Mr. Sugerman
Olivia D. Robinson	....	stand-in
Eva M. Schroeder	....	key assistant location manager
Marsha L. Swinton	....	production accountant
Daniel Villarreal	....	office production assistant
Jude S. Walko	....	assistant production coordinator
Linda Warrilow	....	production coordinator
Amy Denning Winfrey	....	payroll accountant
Janis Woody	....	associate: Mr. Rhone
Jay Johnson	....	title designer (uncredited)
Dar Larizadeh	....	balloon light technician (uncredited)
Chris Stiles	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Darrell R. Grimes	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Hallway Pictures
• Bird and a Bear Entertainment
• Catch Productions

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (200?) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• FS Film Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL7)
• SubTV (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Sundog Films (visual effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (animatronics)
• Big Machine Design (main titles)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  school room trailer
• Paws for Effect  animals provided by
• SoundWorks Houston  additional adr

Also Known As:

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:PG | Finland:K-7 | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40571) | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the car Dorothy says, "I thought we settled that when I moved out," and Nikki looks up from her magazine. In the next shot she's reading it again.

Quotes:

Nate Johnson:[Nate walks through the hotel lobby naked, and runs into a white family] Hey, Don Judy. How you guys doing? It's a fine evening. Hey, why don't you get rid of the clothes and the kids? We're all playing butt-naked uno up in 304.

Movie Connections:

References Vacation (1983)

Soundtrack:

This is My Cut

A Family Ride You Won't Want To Take

Johnson Family Vacation is a very stupid comedy that's really not worth watching. Cedric the Entertainer plays Nate Johnson, a family man who agrees to take his brood across country to Missouri for the annual family reunion. Can his dysfunctional family survive the trip without killing each other? The plot is very generic and the execution is nothing new. The movie is so bland that there's no reason to actually go out and see it. The cast makes this film a bit better but they don't seem to be really be trying. Cedric the Entertainer and Vanessa L. Williams both play their roles decently. Solange Knowles and Bow Wow play their kids and both don't really give memorable performances. Shannon Elizabeth was probably the best part about the film, too bad she's in it for about ten minutes. Steve Harvey has a small role as Nate's brother. Every second he is on screen though, makes the film very hard to watch as he is not funny at all. Christopher Erskin directs his first film and he can hopefully improve if he decides to make another one. The writers got very lazy in this film as most of the jokes fall flat. There may be a funny one here or there but that's not enough. This wouldn't had been problem if the running time wasn't 110 minutes. Since it is so long, there aren't enough jokes to sustain its running time. Also this film feels a lot longer then 110 minutes. When compared to other films, its better then The Cookout and Soul Plane. The National Lampoons road trip movies are a lot better and you should stick with those. In the end, this a very generic film that's not worth watching, though its pretty inoffensive. Rating 4/10, skip this unless your a die-hard fan of any of the stars involved.