The Underrated Martin Lawrence Comedy That Has Netflix Subscribers Howling

Martin Lawrence has starred in some big comedy hits over the years, including the "Bad Boys" franchise, "Big Momma's House," and "Blue Streak." Even if they had plenty of big laughs, not all of his movies were big box office hits. Arguably his most underrated comedy is "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins," which was released in 2008. Writer-director Malcolm D. Lee blames its box office underperformance on its title, according to California Sunday Magazine.

"Roscoe Jenkins" may not have been a box office hit in 2008, but it's a movie people watched over and over again on cable and on DVD. It's being rediscovered on Netflix, where it's currently #4 on the streaming service's Daily Top 10 movies chart and #7 overall. Netflix subscribers are enjoying the movie's slapstick gags and impressive ensemble cast.

"Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" tells the story of the title character, who became a very successful talk show host but turned his back on his family and the small Southern town where he came from in the process. He goes by Dr. R.J. Stephens instead of his down-home given name, despite not even being a real doctor. He's engaged to Bianca Kittles (Joy Bryant), a former "Survivor" winner, who's as competitive as she is beautiful.

He takes Bianca home to meet his family, going home for the first time in nine years. His old resentments against his family immediately come back up, and he gets humiliated over and over again as he clashes with his father, his siblings, and his cousins. But eventually, with the help of his son, who's proud to be a Jenkins, he remembers who he really is.