Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

Buckle up for the wildest road trip of the year. A comedy adventure about a misfit family trying to survive outrageous obstacles (includeing each other) on a cross-country trek to their annual family reunion.

Director:

Christopher Erskin

Writers:

Todd R. Jones, Earl Richey Jones

Stars:

Cedric the Entertainer, Shannon Elizabeth, Shad Moss

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cedric the Entertainer	...	Nate Johnson / Uncle Earl
Vanessa Williams	...	Dorothy Johnson
Solange	...	Nikki Johnson (as Solange Knowles)
Shad Moss	...	D.J. Johnson (as Bow Wow)
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:

family character name in title | cross country | road movie | highway travel | cross country trip | 

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Taglines:

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

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Solange Knowles makes a reference to her sister Beyoncé 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

In the Native American casino when the dad has the chief's headdress on, in the first shot it's on backwards and in the next shot it's on correctly.

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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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Alternate Versions

BET broadcasts in the US use the sped-up 25 fps PAL video from a 24 fps film source.

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Connections

Spoofed in Johnson Family Gangbang (2004)

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Soundtracks

Fantastic Voyage
Written by Stephen Shockley, Thomas Shelby, Otis Stokes, Norman Beavers, Marvin Craig, Fred Lewis,
Mark Wood, Tiemeyer McCain and Fred Alexander

User Reviews

The Johnson Family Vacation Is A Mega Hit

The Johnson Family Vacation is a mega hit. It is so refreshing that the BLACK Family is portrayed in a civilized manner. There are plenty of laughs throughout the movie without the use of profanity. I equate the movie to the Cosby Family, things happen and they get through it without lowering the image of the Black Family. What family doesn't have some dysfunctional events happen? Yes, that is what I am saying; we all can recount incidents in our family that can be related to the Johnson's. We have some big name stars in this film and we owe it to them, because they represent us, to fully support this movie. Please take your family and friends to see this movie this weekend. Let send them a message that we will stick together (Solidarity) in support of the work of our Brothers and Sisters.

SOLIDARITY NOW . SOLIDARITY FROM NOW ON!

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnson Family Vacation

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,375,307, 11 April 2004

Gross USA:

$31,203,964

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,326,183

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