Movie Info

RATING:

Rated G

GENRE:

Comedy

RELEASE:

Mar. 7, 2008

STARRING:

Martin Lawrence, Raven Symone, Arnetia Walker, Michael Landes, Brianna Russo

DIRECTOR:

Roger Kumble

DISTRIBUTOR:

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

 

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MOVIE REVIEW

College Road Trip

Movieguide Magazine

What's This?

CBN.com - College Road Trip is a sweet family father-daughter movie with some broad comedy.

James Porter, the police chief of a suburban Chicago town, is an over-protective father. Even his mother thinks he’s too over-protective. His 17-year-old daughter, Melanie, wants to go off to Georgetown University, far away from their home in Illinois. He wants her to go to Northwestern, which is only 28 minutes away. His son is a little genius who has bred a brilliant pig who can play chess, assemble a Rubiks Cube in seconds, and who keeps his eye on James. His wife, Michelle, loves James but wants Melanie to get out into the real world. Melanie is upset that her father treats her as a little girl.

In the story, Melanie is arguing a moot court case at her high school. The judge tells her he can get her into Georgetown, which is her dream, but she has to get to the interview in three days.

James is horrified because he has prepared for Melanie to go to the closest college. When he finally decides to drive her to Georgetown in the police cruiser, he “accidentally” takes her to Northwestern and has his deputies, one of whom is quite cute, try to interest her in Northwestern. Melanie discovers the ruse, and they get back on the road.

James takes a little country backwoods route and trashes the police cruiser. Melanie gets them to a hotel, where they book themselves on a Japanese tour bus. They end up at his mother’s house in Pittsburgh, where she goes to the sorority. He spies on her, but gets caught the next morning sleeping under the girl’s bed. James gets thrown in jail. They miss their plane to Washington, but they hitch a ride on what, unknown to them, is a sky diving plane.

The good news of College Road Trip is that it is very clean and shows the need for fathers to love their children enough to listen to them. The movie has a wonderful story in it about the reconciliation of a father and a daughter, but the story is not as well crafted, deep or rich as The Game Plan. At many points, it is a thin excuse for broad-based, slapstick comedy. The end of the movie has a great heart-rending hook, so most of the audience will walk out satisfied, but be aware that this is very thin soup. It tastes good, but it will leave you wanting much more.

Address Comments To:
Robert Iger, President/CEO
The Walt Disney Company
(Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Films)
Dick Cook, Chairman
The Walt Disney Studios
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Phone: (818) 560-1000
Website: www.disney.com

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