Johnson Family Vacation (DVD)

If you are looking for a fresh break from the teenage sex starved road trip Johnson Family Vacation just might have something to offer up. Steering not too far from traditional melee this film never really gets too far out of hand and manages to stay grounded making for a relatively satisfying romp across the States.

Nate and Dorothy Johnson (Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams) have been separated for three months and are currently living in separate homes, but they have pushed their differences aside to take a road trip with the kids to the Johnson Family Reunion in Caruthersville, Missouri. Obviously the trip will be fraught with mistakes asking you to laugh and several traditional techniques you would expect from a film of this nature. While it doesn't exactly tickle the funny bone the entire time, it does have its moments.

As for the special features there isn't much to talk about except for two extremely lackluster commentaries, a making-of feature and a car load of deleted/extended scenes.

You may as well skip the commentaries altogether. The first is with Bow Wow, Cedric, director Christopher Erskin and a couple of producers, and it is obvious to tell that they were not all in the same room at the same time as Bow Wow sounds as if he is talking about Cedric several times as if he wasn't there. As for the second commentary with the writers Todd and Earl Richey Jones I have never heard such a boring commentary with a couple of guys who basically reiterate what is going on in the movie, as if it wasn't obvious enough.

The making-of feature and the deleted/extended scenes are okay, but by no means reason enough to buy this DVD without renting it first.

Johnson Family Vacation has its moments but over all I think I will consider yourself just as well off if you were to rent this one, at least before you make your decision to buy.