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by Jonathan McKee Rated PG Directed by Brian Levant (Snow Dogs, Jingle All the Way, Beethoven) Starring Ice Cube, Nia Long, Aleisha Allen, and Philip Bolden Jonathan's Rating: Rental Cube isn't new to movie roles . . . but new to kids films. Are We There Yet? is marketed toward 6-12 year olds. And I guess the question that some are asking is, "Is Cube a role model?" If you look at his past lyrics from his years as a rapper, then the answer is no. But is Cube, father of four, going through a transformation? If so, this film and storyline might be symbolic of that change. Are We There Yet? was a pleasant surprise. I admit, the thought of Ice Cube playing a “father figure” or “positive role model” was a stretch for me at first. But Ice Cube’s reputation aside, the message of this film was a good one, a message that needs to be heard to the young “playa’s” out there. The film is about a bachelor named Nick (Ice Cube) who falls for Suzanne (Nia Long), a divorced mother of two. Nick, a guy not particularly fond of children, realizes that the key to Suzanne’s heart is her children. “If the kids hate ya—the momma won’t date ya!” When Suzanne's work keeps her in Vancouver for the holiday, Nick offers to bring her kids to the city from Portland. The kids, never approving of any of the men their mom has dated, are determined to turn the trip into a nightmare for Nick. The film was funny. It was Home Alone meets Planes, Trains and Automobiles. The gags were amusing . . . let’s face it . . . it’s comical seeing a brand new Navigator get trashed. At the beginning of the film I was a little skeptical when I saw how hung up Nick was with his SUV and his bling-bling. But the film revealed a realistic transformation in Nick’s character as he saw the pain that the kids experienced being abandoned by their father. The message of “the importance of fathers sticking around” came through strong. SHOULD KIDS SEE IT? Aside from the fact that Ice Cube doesn’t have a history of being a positive role model, there is almost nothing objectionable in the film. (The language consisted of 2 “damns,” both of them identified by the kids as bad words.) I brought my 11-year-old to the screening with me and he loved it. Some teenagers will actually go see it as well because Ice Cube is in it. They will enjoy it—in the same way that they would enjoy Home Alone if Snoop Dogg was in it. The film is clean and has a great message. But you need to consider that this is the same guy who rapped songs with the titles, X-bit**es, Cash over A**, and of course If I Was F***ing You. You'll just want to think twice about letting your 12-year-old buy one of Cube's old albums because he loved the film. 
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.
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