This movie is one of those that should and will resonate with everyone. A heart filled, crazy, emotional, and tender look at family. How and why we can drive each other crazy, drive each other away, yet just as easily lift each other up, pull each other through, and make each other strong – when not trying to kill one another.
Danny Glover back on the big screen heads up the strong cast as the patriarch of the Meyer family as they deal with the loss of the beloved matriarch whom held them altogether. Mo'Nique brings her A game as the over the top, flamboyant, hard drinking, shoot from the hip, no bull@$#& aunt. J.B. Smoove is Uncle Lonnie, his typical fast talking shuckin' and jivin' self as only he can be.
The soundtrack is great. From the opening credit sequence it sets the perfect tone and pulls you into the story and is as impactful as a soundtrack should be.
For all the positives of this film, however, I found the pacing (especially the first half) extremely uneven. I found myself repeated pulled in and engaged in the fun/drama only to have punctuated drawn out moments of "meh" wash over me and my interest wane. Fortunately, the second half of the film hits its stride and the movie finishes strong, including some nice outtakes at the beginning of the end credits.
I did get some good laughs and even teared up a couple of times, but, I'm going to give this one a 5.5 and suggest it as a rental/stream.
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