A TV talk show host goes home for his parents' anniversary celebration, where he feuds with his dysfunctional family. RJ Stevens is a successful TV talk show host, who has everything he needs except a good relationship with his family. He left his hometown years ago to pursue his career, and now he is engaged to a beautiful reality TV star, Bianca. His son, Jamaal, is visibly not excited about Bianca being part of his family. When his parents prepare to celebrate their 50th anniversary, RJ doesn't plan on going home to see them-- he hasn't been home since he initially left, since his father always preferred his cousin Clyde to him. However, when Bianca convinces him that it'd be a good publicity opportunity to showcase himself loving his family, he's excited to rub his success in everyone's faces. The trip starts on the wrong foot with RJ losing his bag on his flight home, and everyone makes fun of the clothes that Bianca picks out for him at the airport. We meet his entire family, and even Clyde arrives-- in tow with Clyde is RJ's ex-girlfriend, Lucinda. They competed over her during their childhood, much as they competed over everything. RJ now takes verbal abuse from Clyde over everything, and RJ's father won't come to his aid, as he's still angry about him leaving and changing his name from his original name, Roscoe Jenkins, to RJ Stevens. They all compete in an obstacle course-- a Jenkins family tradition-- but when RJ abandons Jamaal mid-course in order to win, it makes his family angry at him, which in turn exposes his own anger towards them. He storms out with Bianca and Jamaal, but since Jamaal loves his extended family, and Bianca has been annoying and catty the entire trip, RJ begins to wonder if he made the right decision in leaving.
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Best part of story, including ending:
It's a cliched dysfunctional family comedy containing a lot of overly broad comedy, but there are laughs scattered throughout, so it could be worse.
Best scene in story:
After being forced by Bianca to sleep outside, RJ has an unfortunate encounter with a skunk, something anyone who's ever been sprayed by a skunk will sympathize with.
Opinion about the main character:
I respect RJ's career drive, but frankly, he's far too petty and self-obsessed to make for a likable hero in a family comedy like this one.
