"The Guilt Trip" - A fun ride for the family

Ah, the quintessential road trip movie. It's sure to be filled with wacky locals, car malfunctions and the occasional romantic twist. Even at $4 gas prices, there's nothing quite like being on the open road with your best pal...unless that pal is your mom as evidenced by "Guilt Trip" starring
Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand.

Andrew (Seth Rogen) is a budding scientist ready to market the next, great household cleanser.
All he needs to do is, ya know, find someone to buy it. Getting a distributor for his miracle
liquid (stop laughing) is a job and a half thanks to him having the charm of well...a scientist. With his funds running low and only a few more sellers to solicit (or alienate), he takes a moment to visit his mom Joyce (Barbra Streisand). In trying to get her to take a few laps in the dating pool again, he finds out she still holds a torch for her first love and sets out to reunite the two.

"Rogen and Streisand" may not roll off the tongue like you may think, but it's amazing how
well "Streisand and Rogen" sounds and it's no coincidence. The former Focker is sweetly annoying as only a mom can be in "Guilt Trip". What could've been a train wreck turns into a nice ride where Streisand realizes that a little goes a long way and gives a funny, but warm performance as Rogen's overprotective mom. But since comedy is about conflict, Rogen shows that his slightly arrogant Andrew can be equally embarrassedand proud of his mom, but it's the obnoxious moments by Rogen that's when he's at his best which often gets him knocked on his behind, literally and figuratively.

"The Guilt Trip" is one of those rare family films that is actually fun for the whole family. It's adult without those R moments that make you wince being around your kids or parents. Director Anne Fletcher ("Step Up") and writer Dan Fogelman ("Tangled") found a family reunion that most families would want to see again and that's nothing to feel guilty about.

The Guilt Trip - MPAA PG-13 for language and some risque material. Running time: 95 mins. In release nationwide.