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Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley, Aleisha Allen, Philip Daniel Bolden. Family Comedy. Written by Robert Ramsey & Matthew Stone and J. David Stem & David N. Weiss. Directed by Steve Carr.

FILM SYNOPSIS: This follow-up to Are We There Yet? borrows its story from the Cary Grant classic Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Now married to Suzanne (Nia Long), Nick Persons (Ice Cube) has bought a quiet suburban house to escape the rat race of the big city and to provide more space for his new wife and kids Lindsey and Kevin (Aleisha Allen and Philip Daniel Bolden). But when his new home quickly becomes a costly “fixer upper” and he finds himself at the mercy of an eccentric contractor (John C. McGinley), Nick’s suburban dream soon becomes a comic nightmare.

PREVIEW REVIEW: You have to credit Ice Cube for being a good sport. He’s made a family film, avoiding crudity (mostly), subjected himself to numerous pratfalls in the name of Jerry Lewis, and allowed co-star John C. McGinley to steal scene after scene as a zany, Zen-like combo of real estate salesman, city inspector, construction consultant, and New Age midwife. Not as witty, stylish or satirical as the Cary Grant 1940s movie, but if you like silly slapstick and want to enjoy such shenanigans with your little ones, this works. Like me, you may even find a few screwball situations causing you to laugh out loud.

Video Alternative: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. Cary Grant and Myrna Loy were at the top of their game as the frustrated city couple who redo a house in the country. It’s classy comedy, but perhaps viewing it today, audiences will laugh the most when hearing of Mr. Blandings’ salary ($5,000 per year, or the $15,000 house).

Distributor: Sony Pictures