Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

Such a frustrating disappointment

Excellent adaptation.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I usually don't write reviews for movies here on IMDb, but I feel like it's my civic duty to warn people against watching these abomination of cinema. Johnson Family Vacation wastes the talents of a semi-decent cast including Cedric The Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, Lil' Bow Wow (Shad Moss), Solange Knowles (Beyoncé's less famous sister who beat up Jay-Z in an elevator over his infidelity), Steve Harvey, and many more talented performers struggling with this terrible script and plot. The plot is a simple road trip story of a family man trying to take his wife and kids across the country to their family reunion. It had a lot of potential for laughs much like National Lampoon's Vacation or any of the numerous knockoffs. The Johnsons run into all sorts of wacky problems along the way including the beautiful hitchhiker played by Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie), car trouble, and many other waster opportunities. It feels like the equally bad movie "Are We There Yet" copied this movie a year later. If you enjoyed that you will probably love Johnson Family Vacation. If you have any sense of humor and aren't a huge Cedric The Entertainer fan then avoid this bomb like the Ebola virus. Even The Cleaner starring Cedric The Entertainer is more enjoyable than this dud.

"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 thought this movie was awesome..awesome casting,awesome music and y'all must be crazy if ya don't think so.I watched it over and over. Solange Knowles was great as her character and so was bow wow,gabby soleil(destiny) was so awesome and so was all the other cast members ..Cedric the entertainer was great at the 2 characters he played and continued to make me laugh.One of my fave parts in the movie was At the end when they are finally at the reunion and do their performance.I loved that song along with pretty much every other song that was put in that film.I really really thoroughly enjoyed this movie from start to finish.All round a STAND out,funny,FANTASTIC film.

This film is definitely one for somebody who has arrived late from work and wants to watch a light hearted comedy. Cedric the entertainer is very comedic especially when he disputes music with Bow wow and in the pool with all the large ladies. From start to finish from California to the family reunion there are comedic and witty moments and everything from launching urine at a policeman to running out of gas and meeting uncle earl who is also Cedric the entertainer happens. A film for everyone who loves long journeys and Solange Knowles, (I know i do). The film is alike a 'My Wife and Kids' episode and coninscidently features Jennifer Freeman. A great family film with an excellent ending