Review: First Sunday

Once again, Ice Cube (“Are We There Yet?” and “Are We Done Yet?”) tries to be the best dad he can be, even if he must rob a Baltimore church of its development fund. He needs $17,342. That’s a year’s advance rent for a beauty shop, so his ex-wife doesn’t move to Atlanta with their son. Durell’s sidekick LeeJohn (Tracy Morgan) sees the error of his ways. Church ladies embrace him in their bosom and give him his very first birthday party. This fatherless output of foster homes takes a fatherless boy under his wing and teaches him how to tuck in his shirt tails. Corny redemption abounds in this cheap-looking comedy that’s impaired by mirthless pacing. Pilfering laughs, if not quite stealing the show, is Katt Williams, an outstanding supporting character in “The Perfect Holiday.” Making his film debut, writer/ director/ producer David E. Talbert is described in the press notes as a descendant of a long line of Pentecostal preachers. As a playwright he’s “the highest grossing and most recognizable brands in urban inspirational musicals and comedies.” Believers and unbelievers will be relieved to learn from an odd disclaimer in the end credits that the Maryland State Lottery Agency endorses no one religion. Sabbatarian or not, I bet you’ll find “First Sunday” a losing ticket. With Regina Hall, Keith David, Chi McBride, Malinda Williams, Michael Beach and Loretta Devine. 96m. (Bill Stamets)