You Don’t Gotta Be Smart to Watch It… And That’s the Point

You Don’t Gotta Be Smart to Watch It… And That’s the Point

My Review of Joe’s College Road Trip on Netflix

Listen.

If you’re sitting down expecting Shakespeare, sociology, and a TED Talk about generational trauma — this is not your ministry.

This is a “pass the snacks, hush, and laugh” type of movie.

And honestly? I respect that.

What Is This Movie Really About?

The film follows Joe (yes, THAT Joe from the Tyler Perry universe) taking his grandson on a chaotic road trip to college.

It’s loud.

It’s extra.

It’s petty.

It’s slightly inappropriate.

And it knows exactly what it’s doing.

The whole movie is built on generational shade:

Old school vs Gen Z

“Back in my day” vs “Google it”

Discipline vs “mental health days”

And Joe? Joe is not evolving quietly.

You Don’t Gotta Be Smart to Watch It

Let’s be real.

This is not a think piece.

This is not an Oscar reel.

This is not layered like an A24 indie film.

This is a “sit down and let Joe talk reckless for 90 minutes” situation.

You don’t need:

A degree

A film theory class

A Letterboxd account

You just need:

A sense of humor

A tolerance for chaos

And an understanding that Joe is going to say what everybody’s uncle says at Thanksgiving… but louder.

Who Was This Movie For?

Let’s break it down because I love being messy and analytical at the same time.

This movie was for:

✔️ People who grew up on Tyler Perry stage plays

✔️ Aunties who still say “these kids too soft”

✔️ Folks who think Gen Z needs “a little toughening up”

✔️ Viewers who just want something easy after work

It is NOT for:

❌ Film snobs

❌ People who overanalyze lighting choices

❌ Folks who get offended by old-school humor

❌ Twitter intellectuals looking for symbolism

This movie was made for the living room crowd. The “press play and laugh” demographic.

And it works for that.

The Good, The Petty & The Problematic

The Good:

Joe is still funny. Period.

The back-and-forth between generations feels real.

It moves fast — no dragging, no overthinking.

The Petty:

Some jokes are repetitive.

A few scenes feel like extended skits.

Joe sometimes feels like he’s arguing with the internet.

The Problematic (but on brand):

The humor walks that thin line between “funny uncle” and “why you say that out loud?”

But honestly? That’s the character.

If Joe suddenly became politically correct and emotionally articulate, the internet would be confused.

The Gossip Angle

Let’s talk business.

Tyler Perry knows his audience.

He doesn’t chase film critics.

He feeds the people who have been supporting him for decades.

And guess what? They show up every time.

This isn’t about impressing Hollywood elites.

It’s about keeping his core audience entertained.

And from the streaming numbers? They pressed play.

My Rating: 4.5 Out of 5 ⭐

Yes.

I said 4.5.

Not because it’s cinematic genius.

But because it did exactly what it was supposed to do.

It entertained. It was consistent. It didn’t pretend to be deeper than it was.

Sometimes a movie doesn’t need to change your life. Sometimes it just needs to make you laugh and mind your business.

Final Thoughts

If you go into Joe’s College Road Trip expecting a comedy road trip with loud opinions, generational drama, and unfiltered grandpa energy — you’ll enjoy it.

If you go in expecting depth, subtlety, and character arcs that rival prestige drama… baby, you’re in the wrong car.

Now I’m asking you:

Did Joe go too far?

Or was he just saying what everybody’s thinking but scared to tweet?

Let’s talk in the comments.