Ice Cube, Nia Long, Aleisha Allen, Phillip Bolden in
"Are We There Yet?"
courtesy of Columbia Home Video
"Two Videos With the Same Name"

How often does this happen! There are two new videos in stores this week with the same title. Yes two movies are called "Are We there Yet?" One is for the entire family and one is aimed primarily at children. But when you go in and ask for the video you may have to specify the one you want. You can probably say I want the "Ice Cube" one, or I don't want the "Ice Cube" one.

The video titled "Are We There Yet?" that does star Ice Cube is a fun filled family film about a man named Nick (Ice Cube) who falls in love with a woman (Nia Long) who has two kids. When she has to go away on business Nick volunteers to bring the kids to visit her.

Getting there entails a road trip that has everything go wrong with it that could. A lot of these mishaps are caused by the kids who don't want Nick in their mother's life. But of course by the time the trip ends Nick has totally own tem over.

Ice Cube is an actor with a lot of range. He can go from the "Barbershop" series to the "XXX" film, and also have time for a family movie like this one. The man has all bases covered.

The video that doesn't star Ice Cube is the one with the full title of "Are We There Yet? Starring Miles the Goose." This is a movie designed specifically for kids traveling in a car. It features songs and games and even some educational material - but its sole intent is to keep kids amused and entertained from the start of the trip to when they ask "Are we there yet?" and you say, "Yes!"

Before you get too involved in the kiddie movies you might want to check out "The Snow Walker." This is a very beautiful and romantic movie about a man and a woman who are in a plane crash in the arctic wilderness. They are forced to learn from each other in order to survive

Barry Pepper and James Cromwell are the recognizable actors in the film. They are joined by Annabella Piugattuk who is most impressive in the film. She and Pepper make the story a worthwhile one and one that rivets your attention on the screen.

If you are a Lindsay Lohan fan you might want to have a little film festival this week and rent two of her movies. Most of us have watched "The Parent Trap" over and over with our kids but it is always good for one more viewing. It does showcase the Lohan talent and gets us ready for her latest film - "Herbie: Fully Loaded."

You can also watch the movie to enjoy the performances of Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson as her parents. Lindsay may be the star but these two fine actors give her solid support.

Not as well known is the movie "Get A Clue" in which Lohan plays a teenage journalist and sleuth. When a teacher at her school turns up missing it is our girl Lindsay who starts the hunt. Go Lindsay go!

Another "family" film you might enjoy is "Pooh's Heffalump Movie." This film features Roo, the baby kangaroo, who wants to go on an adventure. He sets off for the woods next to his home forest and meets up with a "heffalump" named Lumpy. They become fast friends and Roo learns a valuable lesson about friendship and being open to all types of friends.

The movie is not only beautifully animated, it also features songs by Carly Simon. This certainly adds to the enjoyment of the movie and makes it a special one indeed. So for the story, the fun and the songs pick up "Pooh's Heffalump Movie."

A sharp contrast to "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" is "Boogeyman," a horror film that stars "Seventh Heaven's" Barry Watson as a young man who comes home for his mother's funeral and to flush out all his old demons. He has this fear of a "boogeyman" who lurks in the dark. 

Watson's character is sure the "boogeyman" got his father and that he will get him if he ever gets the chance. That is the premise of the movie and as you can tell it is scary. But not as scary as it could have been. Maybe watching it on the TV set and with the lights out will make it more of a chiller.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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