The film stars Martin Lawrence, Nicole Ari Parker, Margaret Avery, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mike Epps, Mo'Nique, Cedric the Entertainer, Louis C.K., and James Earl Jones.

Bringing Bianca and his 10-year-old son Jamaal to his sleepy Southern hometown for his parents 50th wedding anniversary (to which Roscoe reluctantly agreed to attend), R.J. is determined to prove he is no longer the walking disaster his family used to pick on.

Throughout his stay, Roscoe endures much self-humiliation: he accidentally hits his mother in the head with a softball during a game, is beaten up by Otis and Betty after insulting them, faces constant blackmail by Reggie, inadvertently ruins the family fish fry by getting into a physical fight with Clyde, and is sprayed by a skunk while sleeping.

It becomes obvious that he still holds a grudge against his father for showing Clyde preferential treatment when they were younger, while Roscoe Sr. resents his son for changing his name and distancing himself from his family.

During the anniversary celebration, Clyde cries during his speech for Mama and Papa Jenkins, admitting how much he cares about Roscoe and the family for taking him in after losing his parents.

"[5] Josh Rosenblatt of The Austin Chronicle was surprised by Lawrence's attempt at being the film's "quiet center" and "soul of endearing insecurity" in the title role but felt it gets bogged down by lowbrow humor, concluding that "it's capable at times of real subtlety [and] warmth and humanity but not confident enough in itself to stay away from fart jokes or empty acts of sassiness for very long.

"[6] Nick Schager of Slant Magazine felt the script contained false conflicts and "narrative staleness" throughout the plot but gave Lee credit for allowing Lawrence and his co-stars to "play to their strengths," saying they "help enliven what's otherwise simply another soggy family reunion melodrama".

[7] Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News said, "Although Lee relies on too many lame gross-out jokes, this cast does know how to have fun - which may come as welcome relief to audiences desperate for laughs during a cold month at the movies.

He commended Lee for taking Tyler Perry's formula to make it "less jarring and more palatable" for viewers and giving his supporting cast enough room to deliver their own material (singling out Mo'Nique as "a surprising standout"), but was critical of Lawrence's "sub-Eddie Murphy hijinks" and overuse of slapstick with various humans and animals, concluding that "In other words, it's about as good as a movie featuring gratuitous Pomeranian-humping could possibly be.