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by Jonathan McKee and Todd Pearage Rated G. Directed by Roger Kumble (The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends) Starring Raven-Symone, Martin Lawrence and Donny Osmond Jonathan's Rating: Only if Free Todd's Rating: Theatre Worthy Martin Lawrence is Chicago policeman James Porter, an overprotective father who wants to keep his college-bound daughter, Melanie (Raven-Symone), close to home at Northwestern. When Melanie declares her intention to attend Georgetown and go on a girls-only road trip to check out the university, James decides it’s time for a father-daughter college road trip instead. Along the way, there are plenty of laughs and some very teachable moments. Todd’s Word: I have to be honest and say I was really not looking forward to seeing this one. Thanks to Disney’s, That’s So Raven, my kids love Raven and I…well I can take about 18 seconds of her show. My wife has been a Martin Lawrence fan from his show, Martin and I …well…okay, Martin was pretty funny. Both shows are so ridiculous but you find yourself actually laughing because of just how ridiculous they are. They didn’t take themselves seriously in their shows and they certainly don’t here, and if you can get past that…I think you will really enjoy this movie. Jonathan’s Word: That’s funny… I didn’t know your wife is a Martin fan. Mine too. She loves (I’m embarrassed to admit this) Big Momma’s House. But even my wife didn’t really dig this one. It was a little too corny and predictable. Todd’s Word: Sure, given. College Road Trip is all about slapstick humor and over-the-top reactions from Lawrence and Raven. Jonathan’s Word: We did like Raven. Some of her expressions are hilarious. Todd’s Word: I thought both Martin and Raven were good. As the cranky overprotective dad and the headstrong teen, they both played their roles well and at times it seemed they were almost trying to outdo the other. Then there is Donny Osmond, who shows up in his first film role in decades as the Ned Flanders-like dad. Let me just say for the record… Donny Osmond was HILARIOUS!! It may be hard to believe but he stole plenty of scenes with the aid of his equally giddy daughter (Molly Ephraim). Jonathan’s Word: Sure... it was funny seeing Donny Osmond playing a dorky dad. But it sure would have been a lot funnier if I hadn’t just seem the same character in about twenty other films (Jeff Daniels in RV being the most recent). The film wasn’t bad. It was actually good, clean family fun. But the film would probably have been a lot better if audiences hadn’t just seen similar road trip films like Are We There Yet and RV. My whole family thought the film was very mediocre. Todd’s Word: And although it's far from Oscar-type cinema, I would say that College Road Trip is a fun, family-oriented movie that is definitely Theater Worthy. SHOULD KIDS SEE IT? Todd’s Word: Absolutely, this is a very clean, very funny movie for the whole family. Jonathan’s Word: Although I think it’s good to talk with your family about some of the themes in this film that are rampant in almost every family film today: Kid is smart, parents are dumb. Kids sneak out and do what they want anyway, parents realize how stupid they were. 
Jonathan McKee, president of The Source for Youth Ministry, is the author of numerous
youth ministry books including the brand new Connect: Real Relationships
in a World of Isolation, and the award winning books Do They
Run When They See You Coming? and Getting Students to
Show Up. He speaks and trains at camps, conferences, and
events across North America, and provides free resources for youth workers internationally on his website,
TheSource4YM.com.
Todd Pearage is a movie buff at heart, but he's not your traditional film critic.
Todd is a blue collar film geek, from his job years ago at Blockbuster to his heartfelt online movie reviews. But
Todd isn't just a film geek. He has worked with middle and high school students since 1991 as a youth pastor in
Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches. Todd and his wife Lynda are both graduates of Philadelphia Biblical
University and have two children, Brianna and Caleb. Todd loves sports and movies and is always up for a good laugh.
He is a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and his favorite movies include Braveheart and Tommy Boy. Todd's reviews
reflect his love for kids and for his family.
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