The Honeymooners 2005

In this cinematic tale, we meet Ralph Kramden (Cedric the Entertainer), a spirited New York City bus driver, and his fiery wife Alice (Gabrielle Union), as they navigate the challenges of making ends meet. Despite Ralph’s countless get-rich-quick schemes, from Y2K survival kits to Velcro fanny packs, they’ve managed to scrape together some savings.

As Ralph and Alice, along with their close friends Ed (Mike Epps) and Trixie Norton (Regina Hall), work towards their shared goal of securing a down payment on a Brooklyn duplex. The quartet’s financial woes are further complicated by the impending sale of the property to developer William Davies (Eric Stoltz). With just two weeks to come up with the remaining $20,000, Alice turns to her mother (Carol Woods) for assistance.

Meanwhile, Ed stumbles upon an abandoned shed containing a stunning, high-class train car, perfectly preserved. He shares his discovery with Ralph, who seizes the opportunity to modify the vintage vehicle and turn it into a unique tourist attraction in New York City. The duo decides to invest their $3,000 in the project, but soon realizes that extracting the train from its 60-foot underground resting place will require significant funds.

As they grapple with the financial implications of retrieving the train, Ralph and Ed concoct a series of harebrained schemes to raise capital. These include begging for coins, asking for donations dressed as the Brooklyn Youth Club, and even hip-hop dancing in the streets – all to no avail. Despite their best efforts, the duo finds themselves struggling to recoup their investment, setting the stage for a thrilling adventure that will test their creativity, perseverance, and friendship.

As fate would have it, Ralph and Ed stumbled upon a greyhound dog languishing in a dumpster, its potential waiting to be unleashed. Ralph’s keen eye spotted the canine’s remarkable speed during an impromptu parkside sprint, and he was convinced that with the right training, this scrappy pup could become a racing sensation. The duo approached Kirby (Jon Polito), the track owner, who revealed that the upcoming weekend marked the anniversary derby, boasting a substantial $20,000 prize purse. Kirby agreed to grant Ralph and Ed’s dog a time trial, but only if they could secure the services of seasoned trainer Dodge (John Leguizamo). The price tag? A steep $500, with the added stipulation that training would take place under the cover of night.

Ralph concocted a tale about a job at a lodge to extricate himself from domestic duties and join Ed for nocturnal training sessions with Dodge. As they worked tirelessly to get their canine protégé to start running on cue, Dodge employed every trick in the book to coax the dog into action – but nothing seemed to stir it from its starting position. That was until Ralph and Ed discovered the key to unlocking their pup’s potential: a bright blue ball that had become an integral part of their parkside playtime routine. With this newfound understanding, they managed to get their dog to qualify for the big race in front of Kirby.

Meanwhile, Dodge negotiated the necessary paperwork for the dog, extracting a hefty $600 from Ralph and Ed. Unbeknownst to them, Alice’s mom had unwittingly provided an additional $10,000, which she thought was already accounted for in their bank accounts. The truth, however, was far from it – leaving her fuming when she discovered the empty accounts. As tensions mounted between Ralph and Alice, William (whose private investigators were hot on the trail of the missing $10,000) learned that Ralph and Ed planned to make their fortune through the dog’s racing prowess. With this knowledge, he discreetly paid off Kirby to ensure the pup wouldn’t participate in the anniversary derby.

As the stakes grew higher, Ralph rallied his team with a impassioned plea for justice on behalf of the underdog canine. Ed, however, had one final trick up his sleeve – and it came in the form of their beloved blue ball. During the critical race that could change everything, he produced the familiar toy, momentarily distracting their dog and ultimately leading to its defeat. Ralph’s ensuing outburst only exacerbated the already volatile situation with Alice, who was still reeling from the discovery of their empty bank accounts.

As Ralph stood beside his ill-fated train, a symbol of his failed entrepreneurial endeavors, he stumbled upon the business card of the enigmatic stranger who had previously expressed interest in purchasing it. In a moment of desperation and pragmatism, Ralph decided to unload the train, pocketing a modest $20,000 that would help him recoup some of his financial losses. This newfound influx of cash allowed him to mend fences with Ed, and together they managed to scrape together enough capital to purchase the highly sought-after duplex before it fell into the clutches of a ruthless developer.

As they sat in the lush backyard, savoring their victory with a picnic spread, Ralph’s furry companion unexpectedly deposited a crumpled newspaper onto the blanket. As they unfolded the paper, their eyes widened in unison as the headline screamed out at them: the train Ralph had so hastily sold mere days prior was now touted as a prized gem, having been resold for a staggering $1 million. The reality of his decision hit Ralph like a ton of bricks - he had inadvertently let go of a goldmine, and the irony was not lost on him.