Kingdom Come (2001)

28% of critics liked it
(64 reviews)
65% of users liked it
(7,463 ratings)

Based on the play Dearly Departed by David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones (who also penned this screenplay), this new comedy from the director of Jason's Lyric looks at a family gathering after one of their clan dies of a stroke. In the midst of a sweltering summer, the Slocumb family convenes. They… More Based on the play Dearly Departed by David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones (who also penned this screenplay), this new comedy from the director of Jason's Lyric looks at a family gathering after one of their clan dies of a stroke. In the midst of a sweltering summer, the Slocumb family convenes. They include Charisse (Jada Pinkett Smith), the long-suffering, frustrated wife of philandering Junior (Anthony Anderson); there's also the Bible-spouting Marguerite (Loretta Devine), who prays to save her hard-living son Royce (Darius McCrary) from a life on welfare. Lucille (Vivica A. Fox) is the devoted family peacekeeper who is struggling with a money-grubbing funeral director, and her husband Ray Bud (L.L. Cool J) has major contempt for his family and wishes he were burying them instead. Kingdom Come also features Cedric the Entertainer as an intestinally challenged reverend and Whoopi Goldberg as the family matriarch. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Doug McHenry
Written By: David Dean Bottrell, Jessie Jones
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 11, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Sep 25, 2001
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark, USA Today
A heavyset daughter who never talks but eats a lot is named Delightful, which is supposed to be funny. That pretty much sums up the movie's comic tone.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
While Kingdom Come follows the formula for comic combustibility, it's even more inert than Bud, who at least comes to life for a brief fantasy sequence.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
The structure and style are a staple of many traveling black stage shows ... What slays them in the second balcony, though, flattens on the screen.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A mediocre sitcom writ large.
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Manages to be profound without being pompous.
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
Sometimes there's nothing to be done about death except laugh at it, which is exactly what the comedy Kingdom Come does, with most of the right laughs in most of the right places and some unexpected ones thrown in.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...a well-intentioned yet wholly misguided piece of work that effectively wastes its talented cast...
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
There's nothing original about this film, but it does boast a solid anchor in Goldberg and include some pretty good acting around her.
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
The script, like the direction by Doug McHenry, relies too heavily for comic effect on broad comic contrivances and high-volume arguments.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
For as simple-minded and shamelessly overacted as it is, the film is somewhat redeemed by an overall genial goodwill.
Marshall Fine, Journal News (Westchester, NY)
It takes this stock situation and gives it moments of discovery, as well as an emotional showiness that's sometimes hard to resist.
Ted Murphy, Baseline.Hollywood.com
With its universal themes, Kingdom Come offers a great deal to enjoy, from its stellar cast to its entertaining screenplay
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Something is amiss when gentleness is the most memorable element of the film that desperately wants to be a rollicking gutbuster.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Remi L

I absolutely LOVE this movie! Great ensemble cast; all these talented and well-known people exercising their comedic bones and bringing about great results!
Leo L

Funny!