Are We There Yet? Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Are We There Yet? Blu-ray Movie Review

Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and Ice Cube.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 26, 2016

Slapstick humor and an approachable and entertaining verbal and physical performance from hardcore rapper-turned-family-film-actor Ice Cube define Are We There Yet?, Director Brian Levant's (Jingle All the Way) Comedy centered on a road trip, romance, and rising respect for rug rats. The film isn't exactly a classic, but it's a serviceable genre picture that's rolls with the punches and has a lot of fun plowing through all of the usual, and a few unexpected, permutations along the way. Audiences willing to roll with it, and accept that the film serves a purpose and caters to a style rather than aspires to be a cinema masterpiece might be pleasantly surprised to find a movie that delivers a few deserving laughs, and a little heart, along the way.

Who needs Steve Martin or John Candy?

Nick Persons (Ice Cube) is doing well. His sports memorabilia business has earned him enough cash to purchase a new Lincoln Navigator that's his pride and joy. One day at work, he spies a beautiful woman named Suzanne (Nia Long) but is turned away from approaching her when her two children, Lindsey (Aleisha Allen) and Kevin (Philip Daniel Bolden), appear. See, Nick doesn't like kids. At all. They're like Kryptonite, and even the allure of his dream girl can't get him to warm up to the idea of young ones in his life. Later that night, he stops to help her, against his better judgment, when he finds her stranded on the side of the road. She's thrilled, but the kids aren't; they're waiting for their biological father to return home and they work hard to deter any other man from intruding on their mother's life. Things are going well in the relationship, but one day Suzanne drops the F-bomb on Nick, declaring that they should only be "friends." Undeterred, Nick remains by her side but finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place when she needs him to transport her kids to Vancouver, where she's been sent on an important business meeting. On one hand, he knows he can't handle the stress of kids. On the other, doing her this one solid might just help her to warm up to the idea of a full-on romantic relationship. Nick agrees, but what should have been a quick plane ride becomes a missed train becomes a road trip in Nick's prized Navigator. What could possibly go wrong?

Are We There Yet? is essentially a reimagined, more family-friendly take on Planes, Trains & Automobiles, the widely recognized standard-bearer of the "point A to point B" travel disaster/comedy film. Ice Cube's cuddly picture definitely lacks that film's tight writing, adult wit, expert performances, and memorable core relationship between its characters, but the substitutes come by way of innocent charm, an easy cadence, and a comfort in the movie's broader predictabilities. Are We There Yet? gets most of its mileage vis–à–vis the evolving relationship between Nick and the kids as they grow away from dislike and mistrust and towards feeling like family. Their misadventures only bring them closer together, and the movie champions a basic message on the importance of understanding and acceptance, going with the flow, compartmentalizing anger and misfortune, and coming to appreciate that life isn't about "stuff" but rather love and friendship. Yup, it's all squishy like that under the surface, but it's all in good spirits and never pushes its underlying themes too hard, letting them flow from the story rather than the story crammed in around them.

It's Ice Cube that really makes the movie work beyond the highlight reel mayhem and underlying heart. One can't help but fall in love with Cube's innocent, but mildly hard-edged, charm. He proves more than capable of hanging onto his signature attitude -- his body language and speech patterns -- while blending in a more easygoing comical and family friendly tone. The material doesn't necessarily stretch him, but it suits him and demonstrates a range well removed from his roots. His co-stars don't shine as brightly but do well to fill the shoes the roles require. Jay Mohr and Nia Long are fine in secondary roles, but it's the tandem of Aleisha Allen and Philip Daniel Bolden as the children that impress most, children who make Cube's life hell but help him reach a point where he understands their value as friends rather than see them as obstacles in the way of a relationship with their mother.

Are We There Yet? Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Are We There Yet?'s 1080p transfer offers an organic, easy-on-the-eyes filmic presentation and ranks amongst the very best releases bearing the Mill Creek label. Grain retention is constant, the layer pleasingly light, and it accentuates fine details. Image clarity is terrific and sharpness is constant and natural. Fine details are present in large quantities, whether in close-ups of faces and clothes, in medium-distance shots of sports memorabilia in Nick's shop and toys in the kids' bedrooms, or more distant natural exteriors seen in overhead road trip shots. The color palette pushes lightly warm but there's a wondrous spread of hues to explore and admire throughout. The kids' pink and blue jackets are regular standouts, but so too are Nick's many sports jerseys and ball caps, natural exterior greens, and various urban shades around the city and in the suburbs. Black levels could use some fine tuning but sport adequate depth and shadow detail. Flesh tones, like the palette, hold some warmth but never to a problematic extent. Compression doesn't result in any serious problems.

Are We There Yet? Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Are We There Yet? putters onto Blu-ray with an effective but lowest-common-denominator Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. Dialogue pushes towards the center to good, natural effect. Music enjoys some drift to the edges. It's never cramped across the front but it's obviously lacking any sort of audience envelopment. Score and the Dance beats that pepper the movie enjoy a surprising level of aural definition, though shortcomings in transparent clarity and separation are evident. Falling rain, on the other hand, fails to impress when Nick rescues Suzanne early in the movie. The effect is audible but little more, favoring a thinness and lack of authentic aggression that doesn't help the sound better define the moment. Yet, overall, there's little room for complaint on the track's raw merits alone. For what it has to work with, it's fine. In the grander scheme of things, it could be a lot more precise and immersive.

Are We There Yet? Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Are We There Yet? contains no supplemental content and the main menu offers only a "Play Movie" button.

Are We There Yet? Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Are We There Yet? doesn't offer anything new and exciting, but it's sure of its direction and competent on the road to it. The story unfolds predictably but never loses much humor or heart along the way. Performances are strong, particularly from Ice Cube who demonstrates a range beyond his Rap career, more adult-oriented comedy, action thrills, and wartime drama. Mill Creek's feature-free Blu-ray release of Are We There Yet offers rock-solid video and a capable lossy soundtrack, or at least as capable as a bottom-rung encode can be. Recommended, particularly considering the aggressive pricing.