User Reviews

One of the few shows that originated on the old DuMont network to reach pop culture classic status, "The Honeymooners," starring late great actor/comedians Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, was the epitome of smart, sophisticated 1950s television, and one of the first true situation comedies. Now, some 50 years later, it is in for a remake I wouldn't wish for my worst enemy. Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden, played by "Be Cool's" Cedric The Entertainer, and his bumbling sidekick and neighbor, sewer worker Ed Norton (Mike Epps), engage in a series of goofy get-rich-quick schemes, including a Y2K survival kit, a valuer fanny pack and a pet cactus, among other things. They also purchase an old Pullman train car (found in the sewer) and try to train a greyhound mutt they found in a dumpster to compete in a big race in New Jersey. The trouble here is that these situation are not funny. And the acting is well below par, even for this kind of film. Sure, Cedric huffs and puffs and does his best exasperated Gleason, and Epps tries to emulate Art Carney's giddy, nervous energy, but it's all a poor imitation of more beloved and better defined characters. I'd say fewer than five percent of the preview audience had ever heard of, let alone seen, the original TV series, so there were some laughs (just not from me or any real fans of the program). Alice (Gabrielle Union, "Bad Boys II") and Trixie (Regina Hall, "King's Ransom") were no help, either, and their subplot dealing with a sleazy developer (Eric Stoltz) was really lame. In fact, John Leguizamo (as the crazed dog trainer, Scout), is the only even remotely interesting person in the picture.

Come on! We know this was a horrible movie. We know that a lot of plots in this movie were stupid. Why would someone risk so much money in so many get rich schemes? Why did Mike Epps make the dog lose the race and keep them from winning $20,000? Why did the wives even bother to show up at the dog races. Why did Cedric continue to let that gas guzzling con artist take money from him to train that orphaned dog? Why did the train that Cedric sell back to the foreign man sell for $1 million? There were so many stupid unbelievable plots! Yes, this movie isn't like the 1955 version of the Honeymooners. But it is just as funny. Plus any movie with fly Regina Hall and fly Gabrielle Union cannot be that bad!

Harsh, Harsh, Harsh!! I am always blown away by how harsh IMDb reviewers can be!! I recently caught the Honeymooners on a movie network and decided to give it the old college try. Having seen a few reruns here and there of the original Honeymooners CERTAINLY this film would have faired better having NOT been a supposed remake of the original Jackie Gleason classic. It has little to nothing to do with the original except for names and occupations. Whereas the original took place entirely in Ralph and Alice's small and modest apartment with Ralph cooking up schemes and Alice getting angry and Ralph's boisterous loud personality this one takes place more outside the apartment with Ralph coming up with some outlandish and rather humorous schemes to make them rich.

Cedric the Entertainer, who I have never been a big fan of, is no replacement for Jackie Gleason, that much is for certain. Cedric tries his hand at the loud, obnoxious Ralph Kramden but is more lovable and understandable then Gleason's Kramden. But he does a decent job and leads the film well enough to be watchable. Mike Epps takes the role as Ralph's best friend and cohort Ed Norton. Epps is not the physical comedian that Art Carney was, he doesn't even come close. Ed is far more of a backseat character and there is really no chemistry between Epps and Cedric that is needed for their wild and outlandish ideas. Epps is a really unfortunate casting job and character in the film because Norton was always one of my favorites with his bumbling but lovable personality and it just isn't there this time around. Gabrielle Union gives a stand out performance in this film. She is terrific as down to earth, and intelligent Alice Kramden. I would never think her and Cedric would have any chemistry (similar to the odd pairing of Gleason and Meadows) but Union makes it work and they are cute together. Even the scene of them meeting is endearing and sets up a very real romance between them despite Ralph's madcap ways. Union is really great in this film. Regina Hall is wasted as Trixie Norton. She has zero personality and is just always in the background. She adds little to nothing to the story and is unfortunately cast. The Nortons as a whole were a waste to the film although obviously necessary but add nothing to it. I also must mention Carol Woods who plays Alice's mother in a small role but she is terrific. She is funny and it's fun to watch her and Cedric clash which is definitely a necessity to Honeymooners humor.

Despite some odd miscasting and trying to wrap your head around why this is The Honeymooners the film is fun, clean, just a nice little family comedy that is easy to watch. Sure it's fluff but it's FUN and there is some laughs to be had. The schemes and the plot are easy to follow and fun to watch as well. I know this isn't the greatest film, in fact it's pretty plain but it absolutely is watchable and there is far worse out there and I enjoyed sitting through it and I don't hate Cedric The Entertainer nearly as much as I used to and I have a whole new respect for Gabrielle Union who was really a strong female lead in an averagely written script. I think if you want a nice little fluffy comedy then you'll seriously enjoy this one but if you're expecting The Honeymooners in any way shape or form...well don't. Go in it with different expectations and give it a chance. Unexperienced director John Schultz is probably just learning the ins and outs and for an attempt like this he does adequately. 7/10