Story by Amir Shaw
Images by Hiltron Bailey for Steed Media Service
Hollywood has a way of making people feel like
stars. Ambitious busboys, waitresses, cab drivers
and even tourists chase fame, no matter how
improbable their dreams are. And who can blame
them? For years, this small district in Los Angeles
has transformed the lives of dreamers who go on
to become the darlings and heroes of film.
Mo’Nique and Mike Epps have found Hollywood
to be a cozy haven. Combined they have appeared in at least 30 films, which
have earned upwards of $500 million at the box office. But if for one second you
assumed that these two brash comedians were stricken with “Hollywooditis,” the
joke is definitely on you. In fact, if Mo’Nique and Epps weren’t on the big screen,
they would be the zany relatives that bring life to cookouts and family reunions to
life. During a recent interview at the posh Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel, the
co-stars of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins proved that there’s a thin line between
home and Hollywood.
The importance of never forgetting your past is the central theme in the Malcolm
Lee-directed feature film. The comedic tandem team up to give Dr. RJ Stevens,
played by Martin Lawrence, some tough family love after the talk show guru returns
to his hometown of Dry Springs, Ga. When Mo’Nique first read the script, she
instantly felt familiar with every character.
“The Jenkins family can be anywhere in the world,” Mo’Nique emotes. “Everyone
has a family that is similar to the Jenkins. My character [Betty Jenkins] is the strong
aunt that is in every family. You love her, but you’re nervous when she comes
around. She’s opinionated, aggressive and lovable. She also believes in giving back.
She gives back by going to visit the guys at the prison who need a little spiritual
healing — if you know what I mean.
”On the other hand, Mike Epps plays the ever-scheming Reggie Jenkins. “Reggie
is one of those cousins who will try to talk to your girl. He wants to borrow money
that he can’t pay back, and he wants to use your car,” Epps says of his opportunistic
character. “I think that a lot of people will be able to relate to that. I have so many
brothers and sisters in real life that this movie touched close to home.”
Home for Mo’Nique and Epps was once a long way from Tinseltown. Mo’Nique’s
comedy roots began in Baltimore, while Epps found humor growing up in a house
with eight brothers and sisters in Indianapolis. Although he left the Circle City at
the age of 21, he often returns to visit family members and to gain inspiration for
new comedic material. “I never really left the ‘hood that I grew up in because that’s
where comedy started for me,” Epps says. “That’s where I get my jokes and all of
my characters. Whenever I need new material, I go right back there and sit with
them for a few weeks, or sometimes I’ll be there for a month. I know that I can go
back there to ‘re-up’ on jokes. But with every city that I visit, I try to go straight to
the ‘hood. I go to the barbershops and the soul food restaurants just to see what’s
going on with the people.”
Mo’Nique, on the other hand, has received much praise for the encouragement
that she gives to everyday people. A strong advocate for women’s issues, she remains
dedicated to building self-esteem in others. In 2006, she earned an NAACP Image
Award nomination for executive production and hosting “Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance.”
The beauty pageant-reality show gave its zaftig contenders the confidence to feel
beautiful on the inside and out. “It’s extremely important for me to give
other women encouragement because I’m still building me,” Mo’Nique
reveals. “I haven’t gotten to a place where I’m not in need of help. I also
need to hear positive reinforcement. I never sought to be the self-esteem
spokesperson, that’s just what it is. Because if I can be the best me, that’s
great. I try to be the best me so that I can be a better person than I was
yesterday. And if other people are able to get something from it, that’s
awesome.”
Although the contestants on “Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance” reveled in the
encouragement and camaraderie that took place on the set, Mo’Nique’s
experience as the host of VH-1’s “Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School” was
anything but charming. “With ‘Charm School,’ it was disheartening when
the girls didn’t get it. I would tell the girls things that I knew and not what
I read. Life will treat you unfairly if you treat yourself unfairly. Some of
the sisters didn’t get it and that was very sad for me. I didn’t do that
show for a paycheck or for the high ratings. I did it so that those
sisters could have a better understanding of themselves. Look
at me. Not only am I fat, but I’m a black woman. You have
to determine what you want your destiny to be. If you don’t
worry about the hurdles that are in front of you, you will do
the work to get what you want. I won’t be a victim. I’ll never
play the game of being a victim. If you want it, do me a favor
and go get it.”
Epps forayed into the entertainment industry
in 2006 when he served as the host for
HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam.” The show
featured hit-or-miss comics and often
suffered due to Epps’ delivery of bland
and untimely jokes. But even Michael
Jordan had bad games. Epps divulges
that having an off-night comes with the
territory of being a professional. “One of
the hardest things to do as a comedian
is to remember your jokes and staying
consistently funny,” he says. “This
business can sometimes take you out
of the realm of being funny. Because
we are approached with other acting
jobs and commercials, it’s easy to
lose focus. It’s also easy to get serious
in this business because [there are]
so many things that you have to deal
with outside of being funny. Funny is
what you do. But people don’t see that
you have a regular life. We are human
with real feelings.”
Without being too sentimental,
Epps shook off the “Def Comedy Jam”
experience and returned to his normal
edgy self in 2007 with appearances in
the box-office hit Resident Evil: Extinction
and the Oscar-snubbed Talk to Me with
Don Cheadle. Epps is concentrating on
establishing himself behind the camera
and building his own production company.
He served as an executive producer for the
films The Honeymooners and All About the
Benjamins.
Epps’ next act consists of juggling his
love for comedy while positioning himself as
a power player in the film industry. “I balance
being serious and funny by separating the two,”
he asserts. “When it’s time to be funny, I can
make you laugh. And when it’s time to handle
business, I have to put the funny down. But
it’s always been a joy for me to be able to make
people laugh. A lot of people use comedy for
therapy. Some people come to our comedy shows
very upset after dealing with personal things in
their lives. People walk up to me all of the time
and tell me that I made them forget about their
problems by telling jokes. To me, that’s the best
feeling in the world.”
the movie is so amaazing that you start laughing until the movie is over. Cedric,Mike,Martin and Mo'Nique. you guys did an amazing job on this movie. just keep it on. One love Charlly
Patrick L. Kelly Atlanta GA
Posted at 3:28pm on Monday, February 11th, 2008
The movie was even better than the article. I recommend this funny and emotional theatre to all. "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" is a must see movie!
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