Susan Granger’s review of “KINGDOM COME” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Woody Allen once said, “I believe in sex and death – two experiences that come once in a lifetime”…and “Kingdom Come” takes the same comic look at death. Immediately after patriarch Woodrow “Bud” Slocomb keels over from a stroke at the kitchen table, his none-too-grieving widow (Whoopi Goldberg) is surrounded by their squabbling, dysfunctional family who are quite appalled that she wants “mean and surly” on his tombstone. Their oldest son (LL Cool J), who knows he’s gonna foot the funeral bill, feels he must make a final connection to the father he never quite knew. His wife (Vivica A. Fox) has her own problems, having suffered several miscarriages. Son Junior (Anthony Anderson) is a failure at business and a philanderer, frustrating his high-strung wife (Jada Pinkett Smith) with their “demon-possessed” children. And the Slocum’s surly youngest child (Masasa, making her screen debut) is ironically dubbed Delightful. There’s a sanctimonious, Scripture-spouting aunt (Loretta Devine) and her wayward son (Darius McCrary) whose ambition is a life on welfare, plus a minister (Cedric The Entertainer), whose intestinal problems are worse than his speech impediment, and a show-off relative (Toni Braxton) who struck it rich. Amidst the many crises that develop in the sweltering summer heat, the motley assortment of eccentric relatives make an emotional journey involving love, loss and forgiveness – set to Kirk Franklin’s upbeat soundtrack. Directed by Doug McHenry from a formulaic screenplay by David Dean Bottrell & Jessie Jones, based on their stage play, “Dearly Departed,” it’s an enjoyable black comedy – in more ways than one. And Whoopi’s quite wonderful! On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Kingdom Come” is a funny, touching 6. It’s amusing family angst.
