Are We There Yet?
Directed by Brian Levant
- family
- adventure
- comedy
- romance
The story
The fledgling romance between Nick, a playboy bachelor, and Suzanne, a divorced mother of two, is threatened by a particularly harrowing New Years Eve. When Suzanne's work keeps her in Vancouver for the holiday, Nick offers to bring her kids to the city from Portland, Oregon. The kids, who have never liked any of the men their mom dates, are determined to turn the trip into a nightmare for Nick.
What it’s like
Bright, flat, daylight-colored comedy: wide highway shots of grey Pacific Northwest roads, rain-streaked windshields, and the cramped, sun-warmed interior of a shiny SUV make up most of the frame, with bright suburban kitchens and snowy Vancouver streets offering a change of scenery. The camera is plain and unfussy, with standard two-shot coverage and broad, physical gags timed for laughs rather than mood, and the soundtrack is a bouncy mix of pop and hip-hop that keeps the energy up. The vibe is loud, silly, and warm, the kind of thing that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort rewatch when you want something light. Pacing is brisk and episodic, cycling through one mishap after another on the drive, and the emotional arc is simple: a cocky bachelor slowly earning the respect of two wary, mischievous kids. Intensity is low: slapstick, crude jokes and mild innuendo, some peril played for laughs, and no real violence or fear. It is for people who want a goofy, mild, feel-good road trip with a bit of romance and no heavy emotional weight.
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