By Kofi Outlaw

Let me start by saying that FIRST SUNDAY is but another victim of bad advertising — though in this case I wouldn’t necessarily blame the marketing dept. for dropping the ball. The laugh-out-loud movie the trailers promised never shows up, and what we’re left with is a religious-themed morality tale, that actually has a bit of heart.

Ice Cube stars as Durell, an earnest, hard-working father, striving to provide for the son he shares with baby mama Omunique (SCARY MOVIE’s Regina Hall). Though Durell’s dedication as a father is unquestionable, his lack of income pushes Omunique to consider selling her small beauty salon and moving from Baltimore to Atlanta, taking Durell J.R. along with her. For Durell Sr., the move would cost him his relationship with his son; as a convicted felon, he is barred from crossing state lines.

More often than not, diligent Durell finds himself in front of a judge thanks to hair-brained schemes concocted by his childhood friend, LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan). LeeJohn is the product of everything that could ever go wrong with the foster care system—a raving half-wit, always one step away from his next screw-up. Basically it’s Tracy Morgan playing…Tracy Morgan.

Just when Durell needs money to ensure his son doesn’t have to leave, LeeJohn gets him fired from his promising job at an electronics store. To make up for the blunder, LeeJohn invites Durell in on his latest scheme: driving a van of pimped-out wheelchairs across town for some Jamaican gangsters. Of course the simple task goes horribly awry, and Durell and LeeJohn once again find themselves in the courtroom of the gruff judge Galloway (Keith David).


The judge knows that Durell is a skilled electrician, and wants to see the young man realize his potential. Instead of jail, he sentences Durell and LeeJohn to 5,000 hours of community service, hoping that the indentured servitude will instill them with the humility and values they desperately need. However there is little time for personal growth when Jamaican gangsters are on your tail. Just when all doors seem closed, suddenly a window opens for the bumbling duo, in the form of a gorgeous and spunky pastor’s daughter (Malinda Williams), who catches Durell’s eye while on her way to church.

Like two red-rocket dogs, Durell and LeeJohn hustle after the siren, stumbling upon a spirited church congregation, who has been amassing a lot of money. The pastor (Chi McBride) and most of the congregation want to use the considerable funds to renovate the church and the downtrodden neighborhood surrounding it. One oily Deacon (Michael Beach), is pushing to use the funds to move the church out of the ‘hood, and into a nice, plush, suburb. LeeJohn comes up with a third option: he and Durell rob the church, and use the money to both pay off the Jamaicans and pay off the lease on Omunique’s beauty shop, ensuring that Durell Jr. can stay close to his father.

At first Durell wants no parts of the sacrilegious scheme. But as the threat of his son leaving looms closer, Durell surrenders his morals to the need of being with his son. The pair waits until first Sunday, when the congregation has the most offerings to give, and when darkness falls, they sneak into the church, looking to crack the safe and abscond with the loot.

Again the simple plan goes awry, as Durell and LeeJohn are forced to take the church council, the jubilant choir, and the choir’s flamboyant conductor (Katt Williams), hostage. The situation only gets worse when the Deacon opens the safe only to reveal that someone has already stolen the money.

The film then splinters into subplots that involve LeeJohn turning over a new leaf, thanks to some TLC from the Foster mother (Loretta Devine) he never had; Durell and the Pastor’s daughter, Tianna, facing off, while simultaneously growing more and more attracted to one another; the Deacon being exposed for embezzling funds from the church; and the church’s oldest member, Momma T (Olivia Cole), forcing Durell to realize that in trying to save his son through wrongdoing, he is actually losing the boy. Katt Williams, meanwhile, provides much-needed comic relief from the after-school-special atmosphere, with some well-timed one-liners.

Eventually Durell and LeeJohn experience a profound change of heart and back out of the robbery—too late, as the police are waiting outside the church’s doors to take them down. When Durell and LeeJohn once again end up in front of Judge Galloway, the church congregation (in true Christian fashion) turns the other cheek, testifying on their captors’ behalf, while the flustered Deacon ends up facing charges of his own for the embezzlement. Durell and LeeJohn avoid prison, and the church allots the necessary funds so that Omunique can keep her shop, and Durell can keep his son. The grateful duo become active members in the church, Durell gets his girl, and Jesus continues to travel the cosmos, delivering that love-thang when and where needed.

As I said, First Sunday isn’t the laugh-out-loud, FRIDAY knock-off, promised by the trailers—though I see why the marketing team went that route. The movie is one of those genre-straddling films that are neither fish nor fowl, as my mom used to say. While there are some funny moments, (thank Katt Williams for those,) the film saves its real punch for the emotionally heavy moment involving Durell’s relationship with his son. For all Ice Cube’s posturing as a scowl-faced foil to the comedic happenings around him (the FRIDAY series), or a stocky, scowl-faced, action hero (XXX 2), the rapper-turned-actor is really at the top of his game when infusing SUNDAY’s heavier bits with genuine emotion. When Durell is being torn-up inside about how to keep his son from leaving, we feel that conflict. When Durell is in the church, waving a gun, pleading for the money he needs, we feel that desperation. When Durell finally realizes that the church has given him the money out of kindness, and he hugs his son tight, giving praise to God for the miracle, we nearly shed a tear. At least I nearly shed a tear.

Aside from showcasing Ice Cube’s surprising range, FIRST SUNDAY has an equally solid cast. I’ve already given Katt Williams props for upholding his end, the comedic relief, but veterans like Devine, McBride, David, Hall, Cole and Beach, help to distinguish their characters from the stereotypical “urban archetypes” they could’ve been. Thank writer/director David E. Talbert for that, as well as the polished and professional look of the film. The only person who doesn’t uphold his end is the erratic Morgan, whose re-hashed portrayal of his eccentric character on “30 Rock” doesn’t quite make the transition to film.


I must take a special moment, however, to fawn over the lovely Malinda Williams. There are a couple of shameless sequences in the film where Ice Cube (and the camera) sneak extended peeks at Ms. Williams’ ample assets. I thank Mr. Cube and Mr. Talbert for those moments. Williams’ performance (while genuinely spunky) is also an important reminder that short hair on the right girl can definitely, definitely be hot. And who doesn’t fantasize about getting with the preacher/pastor’s daughter? But I digress.

FIRST SUNDAY is, ironically enough, a film perfectly suited to Sunday, Million Dollar Movie viewing. If you have an accurate idea of what you’re getting into ahead of time (and hopefully I’ve provided such a heads-up,) you will enjoy the movie. If you go into it thinking that you’re going to see FRIDAY pt. 5, you will most certainly be disappointed. My feeling is that same people who made Tyler Perry a household name will be the (only?) ones who find inspiration in FIRST SUNDAY.