Thankfully, child actors Bolden and Allen have learned a few things during the past two years, so their performances are improved.  Bolden actually holds his own, but Allen’s perpetually petulant stare, which alternates with a goofy grin, is getting old.  And what’s with the Disney-like performance at the pool party?  Do we really need to keep telling little girls that singing in front of an audience is where it’s at, folks?

Thank goodness John C. McGinley (from TV’s Scrubs) pulls it all together with his wacky performance as a dishonest but likable small-town guy who wears numerous hats (literally), and who just may be insane.  Unfortunately for Cube, however, McGinley steals the show.  Not that it’s a great show, mind you.  But it would be a whole lot worse without this veteran actor, who manages to be both despicable and lovable at the same time.

The kids watching the film with me laughed, but eventually grew bored and wandered away.  Granted, they’re five and six, and the film is probably more suited for older children.  But if that’s the case, why did the filmmakers insist on adding all the sexual references between Nick and his wife?  Oh, and let’s not forget the animal flatulence, which has become a tired but apparently required cliché in children’s movies.

Fortunately, Are We Done Yet? has a strong message about families bonding and working to overcome their difficulties—especially mixed families.  Not only that, but the parental role models are positive and encouraging.  For once, we don’t have kids telling their parents what to do, nor are they the ones who dispense ‘wisdom from on high.’  Here, it’s the adults who are in charge.  So ultimately, even though it won’t win any awards, parents could do a lot worse than to allow their kids to see this movie. 

AUDIENCE:  Children of all ages, but especially 6 and older

DVD EXTRAS:

• Blooper Reel
• Kid’s Quiz
• The Making of Are We Done Yet?
• Featurette about ‘Chuck Mitchell’

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  Asthma-inhaler use.
• Language/Profanity:  Scattered mild profanity.
• Sexual Content/Nudity:  Brief, partial (rear) male nudity; a few veiled. allusions to sex between husband and wife; young teenage girl dates and holds hands with older teenage boy; crude animal flatulence humor
• Violence:  Pratfalls, animal attacks and assorted slapstick violence mayhem.