1/5 Just walk away from this mess of a movie...
  by Andrew Ellington (Mulholland Drive)
Saying that I wanted this to be good is kind of stupid because, well, just look at it, but really, I expected it to at least be `three star' worthy. I mean, it has Raven-Symone in it, and she is quite hilarious, even if her shtick is pure corn. Besides, it also has Martin Lawrence, and while I never found him as engaging as everyone else, he has a knack for making me laugh. So, it should be cutesy and forgettable, but above all else cute; right?

Eh, not really.

Melanie wants to go to Georgetown to study law and hopefully go to Tokyo, but her overprotective father James doesn't even want her to go to the supermarket, let alone another country. When his plans to send her to Northwestern (a college only forty miles away from home) get squashed by a surprise Georgetown interview, James decides to accompany his daughter on her drive to the college, hoping to persuade her along the way to ditch her dreams and pursue his. Instead, they fight and makeup then fight and makeup. Add to obvious, a slew of scenes involving more obviousness and you have (obviously) a clichéd family film; but, where a lot of films layer predictability with chemistry, charm and humor, `College Road Trip' fails.

Raven is funny at times, but her approach to comedy, while delightful in half-hour doses, gets tiring after a while; and Lawrence, who seems to be trying to emulate De Niro's `well meaning jerk' from `Meet the Parents', is just awkward. They don't really come together like they should (and Lawrence is NO De Niro).

The gags grow old really fast (the first time we saw the pig my wife said to me "this is going to get old quick" and she was right) and the `father/daughter bonding' element just feels like a regurgitated plot point with not fresh individuality. In fact, a lot of the film comes across like a poor-mans version of highlights from OTHER films. I actually thought that Donny Osmand was funny for a hot second and then, well, he wasn't anymore. The whole thing just seemed really lazy and uninspired. I have seen a lot of these teeny-bop brand family films, and some of them are quite entertaining and endearing and memorable. `College Road Trip' is not one of those films.

Oh, and don't even get me started on the ridiculousness that was that slow motion `it's so sad to finally be going to college and have my daddy there happy for me' scene that comes at the end...roll my eyes retarded (it was like 5 minutes long!)

I'm not sure why so many seem to love this movie, but maybe the reviewers are really young (that's not meant as an insult, just an observation). I can see that, since the humor here seems to be targeted at the 5-10 crowd, which baffles me since it was one of those movies that seemed to be thrust in the `tween' department. I can't think of a single person over the age of 9 that is going to find this movie remotely funny.

5/5 College Road Trip
  by James A. Morgan (St.Louis, Mo. United States)
Very INFORMATIVE; gives U idea of a FATHER's wanting the BEST 4 His KID, [the BEST in HIS MIND]

4/5 Cute Film
  by L. Williams (USA)
I enjoyed this movie! I love Martin and Raven in their roles and thought they did a great job.

This is another one of those good home movies with a bag of microwave bag of popcorn.

Bottom Line is this is a great family fun home movie!

5/5 Fun Family Movie!
  by A. Steed (Idaho Falls, ID)
If you want a fun family movie with laughs for all ages this is it! I don't know how many times I've seen it but I can watch it over and over! Excellent show.

5/5 Wholesome & Pure
  by a.l. (Dallas, tx)
Although some reviews may claim this to be overly cliche and to be kiddy by all means. I wish to disagree. Yes this movie is very predictable, however this is wholesome and absolute clean comedy. Some may say this is not a teenage movie, but why can't it be. Is it because it isn't pertaining to sex, or doesn't have risque moments in it, or because they are using acceptable language? Does those norms have to present for a movie to be considered teenage. With thinking like that I see how society has branded our teens useless and to mature for their ages. I a have daughter, but unfortunately she's only 4. If she were older and in her mid-teens I would most definitely take her to see this. This is a great movie with great morals and understanding to the thinking of parents and children. I believe this should be in everyone's dvd collection not only because of the great acting, but because it is wholesome and purely pure. This is what we're missing in our society.......PURITY..........and honestly if more of our teens demonstrated purity and childish behavior than just maybe our pregnancy and drug and alcohol epidemic would decline. As a parent and as a 23 year old I wish that I had that interaction with my parents and I surely wish to have that purity in my household as I raise my daughter. Childhood is childhood. Children should be kept as children and although teenage signifies a different stage it should not dictate your childs way of thinking. This is a teenage movie, but unfortunately parents today don't know the place of what a true teenager is. A true teenager isn't watching rated r movies, a true teenage doesn't laugh only at sexual related jokes, and surely a true teenager is never to old to spend wholesome with the family. Honestly I cannot wait to purchase this on dvd. This is great and it is cliche, but who cares most movies are, however most movies aren't wholesome and motivating and family laughable.