The Cookout

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The Cookout

PG-13

2004

1h 28m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

5%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

College basketball player Todd Anderson (Storm P) signs a $30 million deal with the New Jersey Nets and promptly moves to a wealthy suburb. His mother (Jenifer Lewis), however, insists that Todd remain connected to his humbler roots. So Todd decides to hold a good old-fashioned cookout at his new mansion. But this turns out to be more difficult than he expected, and his old friends and relatives clash with the sophisticated characters that have recently come into his life.

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Critics Consensus

Good-natured but prepared with an absence of craft, The Cookout is an unappetizing collection of warmed-over jokes.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

1/5

Avoid this gross, raunchy comedy at all costs.

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Keith Phipps

AV Club

Jan 5, 2007

Seemingly assembled from ideas on the cutting-room floor of a cancelled sitcom.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Jan 5, 2007

This is one dull party.

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Jan 7, 2010

1/4

The very definition of an easy target--and, in all fairness, it deserves every last bit of criticism.

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

2/5

Director Lance Rivera has never directed a movie before, and he doesn't start here.

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Jeremy C. Fox

Pajiba

Sep 16, 2005

There may be someone in the audience who goes into hysterics at the mere sight of a baby's diaper soaked through with ****, but, if so, I hope never to meet him.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 30, 2025

Funny in 1 hour and 37 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Sexual References, Language and Drug Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $11,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Apr 10, 2022

Ages 13+ only, LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Funny, original, and lots of kissing.

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Feb 11, 2020

Stupid movie bad acting and they have so many good actors in this morning what! 😂🤪

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Nov 2, 2016

I'mma cook this movie to perfection

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Jul 22, 2016

Though Latifah's small part is highly amusing, the rest of the film is not.

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Aug 20, 2012

Lame jokes and coonery abounds.

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Lance Rivera

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CANNES: "Fast Food Nation," "An Inconvenient Truth" Effective and Entertaining

Critical Consensus: A Regal "Holiday," A Well-Trodden "Road," A Tepid "Tristan"

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Synopsis

College basketball player Todd Anderson (Storm P) signs a $30 million deal with the New Jersey Nets and promptly moves to a wealthy suburb. His mother (Jenifer Lewis), however, insists that Todd remain connected to his humbler roots. So Todd decides to hold a good old-fashioned cookout at his new mansion. But this turns out to be more difficult than he expected, and his old friends and relatives clash with the sophisticated characters that have recently come into his life.

Director: Lance Rivera
Producer: Queen Latifah
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Brian Holmes, Laurie B. Turner, Ramsey Gbelawoe
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Cookout Productions, Flavor Entertainment Unit
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual References|Language|Drug Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 3, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.5M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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