*
Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley
Directed by Steve Carr
Rated PG
Nearly 20 years ago, Ice Cube announced his arrival on N.W.A.’s groundbreaking album Straight Outta Compton: “Crazy motherf--ker named Ice Cube,” he bellowed. “When I’m called off/I got a sawed-off/Squeeze the trigger, and bodies are hauled off.” Cube quickly turned that fearsome personality into a gripping screen persona, and over the years has learned to combine it with a cuddly humility. He found a nice balance in the Barbershop films, but seems to have tipped too far lately, in 2005’s Are We There Yet? and in its new, unwarranted sequel, Are We Done Yet?
The first film placed Cube behind the wheel of a sweet new ride, transporting his girlfriend’s kids cross-country. At least Cube was able to hold onto some of his original edge for that film, but in this sequel, Nick (Cube) has softened; he’s married and living with Suzanne (Long) and the kids in his cramped apartment. He has sold his sports memorabilia store in hopes of starting a sports magazine. All he needs is an interview with Magic Johnson (apparently, he already has lots of other articles, advertisers, etc.).
Sadly, nothing is sacred, and this new film is an official, credited remake of 1948’s Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. So Nick moves the entire brood, plus a set of twins on the way, to a house in the country. A slick real estate agent, Chuck (McGinley, best known for his role as Dr. Perry Cox on Scrubs), sells Nick the money pit, then turns up again as the town’s contractor, electrician and inspector. It turns out that Chuck is one of those perfect, skillful guys. This causes the brutish, insensitive Nick to fret and fuss for 90 minutes, while his family fawns over their new friend.
If the movie had simply placed the streetwise Cube in the country and told a fish-out-of-water story, it might have had something, but instead it follows a tired, family-film formula, grinding along on worn-out gears. And despite his trademark scowl, Cube can’t keep himself from looking sheepish. That’s where the title comes in. –Jeffrey M. Anderson