First Sunday (2008)

13% of critics liked it
(75 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(179,117 ratings)

Gospel-minded playwright David E. Talbert produces, writes, and directs this urban crime comedy concerning a pair of criminals who take a group of church parishioners hostage while attempting to rob the holy house, only to find their captives slowly convincing them to repent and give up their… More Gospel-minded playwright David E. Talbert produces, writes, and directs this urban crime comedy concerning a pair of criminals who take a group of church parishioners hostage while attempting to rob the holy house, only to find their captives slowly convincing them to repent and give up their lawless lifestyles. Durell (Ice Cube) and LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan) are two best friends with a special knack for petty crime. Upset at discovering that his ex-girlfriend is planning to move out of state with the couple's young son, Durell knows that the only way to keep his fractured family in close proximity to one another is to raise the 17,000 dollars needed to pay off her growing debt. In order to get the money before his ex decides to make the big move, the desperate Durell enlists the aid of his scheming best buddy to rob their neighborhood church. But someone has beaten Durell and LeeJohn to the punch, and if they ever hope to get their hands on that quick cash, this bumbling pair will first have to spend an entire night in the presence of not just the almighty lord, but some of his most fervent followers as well. Katt Williams, Keith David, Regina Hall, and Chi Mcbride co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: David E. Talbert
Written By: David E. Talbert
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 11, 2008 Wide
On DVD: May 6, 2008
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
If Tyler Perry ever wanted to turn Dog Day Afternoon into a treacly after-school special, it would probably end up looking a lot like this.
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
The movie is designed to be uplifting and inspirational, but everything about it is tired and listless. It doesn't so much make you feel the spirit as drain it out of you.
Jessica Reaves, Chicago Tribune
The movie's total lack of focus and its unimpressive script should render it totally unwatchable. Weirdly, that doesn't quite happen.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Your enjoyment of this movie may depend on the Tracy Morgan factor. Rarely has there been a comic who can switch from funny to unbearably grating with such speed.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
While we can't presume to know the Lord's mind, somewhere in the footnotes to the Ten Commandments there must be a rule about not using insipid piety to excuse incompetent comedy.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The film, written and directed by urban theater circuit playwright David E. Talbert, is far from polished, but it has a rambunctious energy that's hard to resist.
Joshua Starnes, ComingSoon.net
First Sunday isn't an out and out bad film, but to be a good one it would need to either greatly raise the dramatic steaks, or push its comedic boundaries over the top in conception. Instead it treads water safely in the middle, and it shows.
Jamie Gillies, Apollo Guide
There is an 'Almighty Version' Enhanced Fact Track, with trivia tidbits that play throughout the movie.
Jamie Gillies, Apollo Guide
Perhaps moviegoers demand simplicity and cheap laughs more than ever during tough times, but this must be discouraging to aspiring African-American comedians and writers.
Austin Kennedy, Sin Magazine
This movie fails as a comedy, a drama, a morality play, and as a coherent motion picture. Awful stuff!
Kevin McCarthy, BDK Reviews
If it was not for Morgan's goofy character or Katt Williams, I would be giving this movie a zero.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Devilish satire outing felons who come in gaudy three piece suits too, a sweltering church 'hotter than Satan's toenails' and Sunday sermon sidebars that all the rest makes go down easy.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
A crass minstrel show laced with demeaning dialogue.
Alonso Duralde, MSNBC
The missing-church-funds subplot will be easily figured out by any four year old, but it winds up being a McGuffin anyway.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Lately, if you've seen one Ice Cube 'comedy,' you've seen them all.
Phelim O'Neill, Guardian [UK]
With his movie debut, Talbert plays to his established audience, the redemption message riding roughshod over everything, even such trifling concerns as character consistency and continuity.
, Sun Online
Tired, unfunny comedy with Ice Cube as a bungling crook.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
The least funny man ever to make a career in comedy movies, Ice Cube hauls his sullen mug back in front of the cameras for the execrable First Sunday.
Ken McIntyre, Total Film
Cube's maudlin, overly precious relationship with his son hits a few sour notes, but Morgan's rubbery, half-crazy Leejohn always drags the film back into its manic, cartoony groove.
Simon Jordan, Film4
On your own day of judgement, select a better film from the listings.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Corey W

OMG! Movies need more meaning. WHO MAKES A MOVIE ABOUT STEALING FROM A CHURCH.
Khris N

A black morality tale... a nice twist from Cube's previous film outings. The comedy is still there, but throw in religion, guilt and the ghetto and you in for a good night. If you like these kinds flicks. Watch and praise the Lord that you arent as stupid as the two crims in… More
A black morality tale... a nice twist from Cube's previous film outings. The comedy is still there, but throw in religion, guilt and the ghetto and you in for a good night. If you like these kinds flicks. Watch and praise the Lord that you arent as stupid as the two crims in this one!! XD!!
Lenny M

Didn't really hit the target being a comedy, Katt Williams could have had more lines with his funny character.
Douglas W C

Really good film about redemption.
Keysha H

This was a really funny movie, that was made awesome by Tracy Morgan and Katt Williams and Rickey Smiley. They made the 1st part of the film so very funny..although the ending was WAY too emotional.
Keith A

Funny at the first act, but, by the second & third act, it gets too preachy & too predictable.
Fascade F

Not too bad a movie...Kat Williams is incredible in this one...Ice Cube as a director is a funny force to be reconed with....he is going to be around for a loooong time...in front and behind the camera.
Joseph E

I always wondered what a really unfunny comdey would be like, and I found out. A lame excuse of a Melo-Dramatic "Tyler Perry" Rip-off. Katt Williams was pretty good, but this movie wasn't as hilarious as I thought it'd be, and it left me wondering one big thing.… More
I always wondered what a really unfunny comdey would be like, and I found out. A lame excuse of a Melo-Dramatic "Tyler Perry" Rip-off. Katt Williams was pretty good, but this movie wasn't as hilarious as I thought it'd be, and it left me wondering one big thing. "Has Ice Cube finally given up the Childish Comedies, for real Cinema again, Like in "Higher Learning", and "?Boyz In The Hood"?
William G

Stockholm slapstick grows increasingly preachy and predictable.
Nay Nay B

plop. sorry katt, this didn't work.
Matt S

Your typical Ice Cube comedy where he's the good "bad guy" trying to do the right thing. Good for a few laughs.
Nate H

Yeah, I saw this. It wasn't bad, though when it tried to be too dramatic it was unintentionally laughable. I still laughed a surprising amount though, I guess I can't hate Katt Williams anymore.

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Ice Cube as Durell Washington

            Katt Williams as Rickey

            Tracy Morgan as LeeJohn Jackson

            Loretta Devine as Sister Doris

            Michael Beach as Deacon Randy

            Keith David as Judge B. Bennet Galloway

            Regina Hall as Omunique

            Malinda Williams as Tianna Mitchell

            Chi McBride as Pastor Arthur Mitchell

            Olivia Cole
            
            Clifton Powell as Officer Eddie King

            Nicholas Turturro as Office D'Agostino

            Red Grant as Harold

            C.J. Sanders as Durell Jr.

            Arjay Smith as Preston

            Kim Staunton as Public Defender

            Sterling D. Ardrey as Timmy

            Gerry Black as Mr. Wally

            Joy Brunson as Choir Member 2

            P.J. Byrne as Assistant D.A.

            Paul Campbell (IV) as Blahka

            Melanie Comarcho as Waitress

            Bashirrah Creswell as Choir Member 3

            Antwone Dickey as Pirate

            Starletta DuPois as Grandmother

            Roy Jackson Jr. as Boyfriend

            Patricia Mikel as Sister Baker

            Byron Blu Mitchell as Choir Member 1

            Aya Nagasaki as Massage Attendant

            Reynaldo Rey as Soul Joe

            Martell Robinson as Moredecai

            Marietta Sirleaf as Roberta

            Kurt Carr as Choir Band

            Nathaniel Kearney Jr. as Choir Band

            Timothy P. Mason as Choir Band

            Sheryl Harper as Choir Band

            Vernon Keith Allen as Choir

            Jackie Brown as Choir

            Troy Clark as Choir

            David Daughty as Choir

            Kesha Ealy as Choir

            Janet Fuller as Choir

            Chara Hammonds as Choir

            Melody Hess as Choir

            Frank Ingram as Choir

            Patricia Johnson as Choir

            Carolyn Johnson-White as Choir

            Helen Jones as Choir

            Shanika Leeks as Choir

            Rodney Matthews as Choir

            Mark Jeffrey Miller as Choir

            James Neuble as Choir

            Aseneth Parker as Choir

            Nicole Potts as Choir

            Kecia Sanders as Choir

            Koda Turner as Choir

            Andre Washington as Choir

            Rodney Washington as Choir

            Otha White as Choir

            Rachel Whitlow as Choir

            Linda Willis as Choir

            Brandon Winbush as Choir

            Rickey Smiley
            
            Tiffany Pollard
            
See full cast