Watch The Cookout

The Cookout is a 2004 comedy film directed by Lance Rivera, starring Quran Pender, Jenifer Lewis, Ja Rule, and Tim Meadows. The movie follows Todd Anderson (Quran Pender), a first-round draft pick who has just been signed by the New Jersey Nets. He wants nothing more than to maintain his down-to-earth lifestyle, but his overbearing parents want him to climb the social ladder.

Todd decides to throw a family barbecue, but there's one catch: it's going to be a neighborhood block party. He invites all of his closest friends and family, but the party quickly spirals out of control when a local rap star named Bling Bling (Ja Rule) crashes the party.

The movie is an entertaining look into the different personalities that attend a block party, and the challenges that can arise when those different personalities come together. There's the overzealous neighbor who likes to spy on everyone, the crazy cousin who can't stay out of trouble, and the overbearing mother who wants everything to be perfect.

Despite the chaos that ensues, Todd manages to keep his composure and even finds himself falling for his next-door neighbor, Leah (Meagan Good). Their budding romance adds just the right amount of sweetness to the movie.

One of the most hilarious parts of the movie is the character of Bling Bling. Ja Rule is perfectly cast as the arrogant rapper who thinks he's above everyone else. He tries to steal the spotlight at Todd's party, but ends up making a fool out of himself instead.

Another great part of the movie is Jenifer Lewis's portrayal of Todd's mother, Lady Em. She's the epitome of a helicopter parent, constantly trying to control every aspect of Todd's life. Her overbearing nature provides a lot of comedic relief throughout the movie.

Overall, The Cookout is a fun and lighthearted comedy that's perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon. It's not going to win any Oscars, but it's an entertaining look into the world of block parties and the characters that make them memorable.

The Cookout is a 2004 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.8 and a MetaScore of 15.