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'RV' is DOA

By Jay Carr

"RV" is DOA. Can Robin Williams have needed a paycheck so badly that he willingly signed on for this lame, dysfunctional family road comedy that was brain-dead decades ago when National Lampoon used to grind them out? It listlessly recycles the usual dad-gets-dissed-while-everybody-else-gets-pissed scenario. Cheryl Hines's wife and mom curbs her enthusiasm, whining nonstop with their two dreary kids as everything goes wrong en route from LA to Boulder, Colorado, until the workaholic chump turns family-centered champ.

Williams clicks just once, when he revives his rap routine. Things flicker briefly to life when Will Arnett of "Arrested Development" unfurls some nasty boss shtik. Most of what fun there is stems from Jeff Daniels's Red State redneck who has a lesson to teach Williams and the rest of us about hasty condescension and stereotyping. He and his perky wife (Kristen Chenowith) make us wish the camera had tracked them instead of Williams et. al, as "RV" trafficks in stupidity so jaw-droppingly appalling that it could be a political speech.

RV. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, screenplay by Geoff Rodkey Starring Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Chenowith, Will Arnett