The bobble-head idea grew out of the nature of Nick's business. "I was intrigued by the fact that Nick owned a fine sports collectible store,” says Levant. “It raised a lot of possibilities for us visually. His profession gave us a vehicle to explore the roots of black baseball.” The movie features many authentic, rare collectibles including jerseys signed by legendary Negro Leagues’ Buck O'Neill and a 1950s football helmet worn by Emlen Tunnell, the first black player for the New York Giants.
The bobble-head figure was fashioned after legendary baseball star Satchel Paige. The dashboard doll becomes Nick's ‘confidant’ on his treacherous journey. “He’s like the voice of reason in Nick’s head,” says Ice Cube. (Actor Tracy Morgan is the voice of Satchel Paige).
Why Satchel Paige? Ice Cube maintains that Paige, who made his debut in the major leagues at age 42 and pitched in the majors until he was 59, never really got his just due in history: "I could have used a contemporary ball player, but I just thought it'd be a little more flavor if we had somebody from the old Negro Leagues."
A bobble-head doll isn't the only inanimate object that seems to take on a life of it's own. Nick’s Lincoln Navigator parallels his progress throughout the film. "The journey that the Navigator takes really mirrors Nick's bachelorhood,” says Levant, “because, by the end, it too has been destroyed ... we’ve flattened his wheels and his pride."
But, basically, says Ice Cube, Are We There Yet? is the kind of movie that will please the family audience. "It's a good story that is fun and upbeat. It's a really cool tale of what two people have to go through to be together.”
"The whole audience will find it accessible and funny,” promises Mohr. “Whether you’re an adult or a kid, you'll be able to relate to what's going on. Anyone who's ever been in a car for longer than 20 minutes and didn't know where they were going is going to get it.”
For Levant, the movie's title gave him carte blanche to go push the envelope throughout and try to provide audience with a perfect evening out of the house. "I really wanted to give people their money’s worth by continually turning up the heat, adding more energy and just piling on the incidents. I want them to leave satisfied that we left no comedy stone unturned."
And maybe, adds Alvarez, the film can also slip in a subliminal message. “At the end of the day, what we're saying is that family is the most important thing one has. As long as you have the support of your family and there's love, then everything's cool, you'll get by, you'll be fine.”
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