Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
The fledgling romance between Nick, a playboy bachelor, and Suzanne, a divorced mother of two, is threatened by a particularly harrowing New Years Eve. When Suzanne's work keeps her in Vancouver for the holiday, Nick offers to bring her kids to the city from Portland, Oregon. The kids, who have never liked any of the men their mom dates, are determined to turn the trip into a nightmare for Nick.
Are We There Yet? is a formulaic family road trip comedy that hits predictable beats: reluctant adult figure, mischievous kids, inevitable bonding. The plot borrows heavily from earlier fish-out-of-water comedies without adding much freshness. Ice Cube is an unlikely but game lead, though the material limits him considerably; the child performances are serviceable but broadly played. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, fitting its mid-budget studio comedy template. Novelty is low given the well-worn premise and by-the-numbers execution. The ending resolves warmly and satisfyingly within genre expectations, making it the relative bright spot of the film.