Kingdom Come Parent Guide

Parent Movie Review
by Donna Gustafson

“Mean and sourly” is how Raynelle Slocumb (Whoopie Goldberg) describes her not so dearly departed husband. Now that his Kingdom’s Come, all that remains for the family to do is give Bud a proper burial. As the clan gathers, bringing their emotional baggage along, it takes no time before the insults, fists, and handbags begin to fly.

The deceased’s oldest son Ray Bud (LL Cool J) is a recovering alcoholic who seriously contemplates going back to the bottle when his wife announces she has offered to house his younger brother Junior (Anthony Anderson) and his unruly, squabbling family while they attend the funeral. As luck would have it, things are worse than usual in Junior’s life. Not only is he on the brink of bankruptcy, but he is also facing the wrath of his wife who has just discovered his infidelity.

Then there are the extended relations. For years the late Mr. Slocumb’s bible-thumping sister (Loretta Devine) has been trying to save his immortal soul. Hoping this time of sorrow will provide a spiritual reawakening among her kin, she arrives with her party-loving, womanizing son in tow.

Written as a comedy, the script makes light of such things as religion, adultery, verbal abuse, and domestic disputes. While the characters’ overreactions to some of the depicted situations are humorous, many won’t be laughing in the scene where an angry man, driving a car, pulls a gun on his taunting wife and threatens to kill her and then kill himself. Witnessing the whole argument, the couple’s young children cower in the back seat.

Other concerns for parents will be the film’s liberal use of language and the many sexual elements within the script. Although these are generally non-explicit, they are key to the character’s motivations.

The movie preaches family ties, forgiveness, and the importance of faith, along with a catchy inspirational gospel/rap soundtrack (which should appeal to many young people). Unfortunately these redeeming ingredients are barely survived by the overly optimistic and sentimental ending required to move this dysfunctional family out of Bud Slocumb’s damaging shadow.

Starring Whoopi Goldberg. Running time: 94 minutes. Theatrical release April 11, 2001. Updated July 17, 2017

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.

Kingdom Come
Rating & Content Info

Why is Kingdom Come rated PG? Kingdom Come is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic elements, language, and sensuality

Overall: C
When Bud Slocomb passes away, it is not his death but the prospect of having to get together for the funeral that has his relatives grieving. The real question in this comedy about a dysfunctional family is “can the bickering bunch avoid killing each other long enough to bury the man?”

Violence: C
Wife verbally berates husband. Man drives recklessly while threatening to kill all occupants of vehicle. In presence of their children, husband pulls gun on wife and threatens to kill them both. Man threatens suicide in jest. Young children constantly squabble. Car weaves dangerously when passenger wrestles with driver. On two occasions, man offers to deliberately damage another person’s vehicle. Mother and son bicker, mother hits son with handbag. Two adults wrestle. Angry woman stabs table with knife. Various characters yell at one another throughout film. Vomiting and flatulent sounds heard. Drink thrown into man’s face. Woman hits man drinking alcohol in church.

Sexual Content: C
Sleeping man shown wearing only underwear. On several occasions, mother accuses son of spending time with harlots. Wife mentions she imposed abstinence on husband. On several occasions (including publicly), woman accuses husband of infidelity. Characters discuss miscarried pregnancy. Man makes vague confession to adultery. Man makes gesture to describe woman’s breasts. Two brief shots of married man getting into bed with wife. Woman undresses to her slip in front of man, then the unmarried couple roll around on bed. Character claims another character looks like two-dollar hooker. Woman hits intoxicated man when he puts his arm around her. Loose morals ascribed to various characters on several occasions. Man shown sitting on toilet. Woman flirts with man.

Language: B-
At least: 1 moderate and 18 mild profanities, 2 rude slang terms, name calling, and 9 terms of Deity used as expletives. Due to religious depictions in film, numerous terms of Deity used as proper nouns.

Alcohol / Drug Use: C+
One male character shown smoking throughout. Talk of drinking and alcoholism. Man behaves drunkenly, drinks from beer can on several occasions. Mother nags child about smoking and drinking habits. Two women take “nerve pills.” Man drinks alcohol from bottle then shares some with another man. Woman shown smoking. Recovering alcoholic struggles with desire to drink. Beer bottles shown.

Page last updated July 17, 2017