Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison

The film has a 67% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on six reviews.^[2] Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post awarded the film two stars out of four.^[3] Jeffrey M. Anderson of the San Francisco Examiner awarded the film three stars.^[4] Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media awarded the film four stars out of five.^[5]

• Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison at IMDb
• Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison at Rotten Tomatoes

Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison is a 2020 mockumentary-style comedy-drama written, directed by, and starring Romany Malco as Tijuana “TJ” Jackson, a formerly incarcerated man determined to become a motivational speaker.

The film follows TJ after his release from prison, with an amateur film crew documenting his reentry journey and pursuit of self-improvement. Though determined to turn his life around, TJ’s path is full of obstacles, including skepticism from his family, the strict supervision of his parole officer Cheryl (played by Regina Hall), and his own impulsive choices.

At one point, TJ jumps at what appears to be a golden opportunity: an invitation to speak at a Toastmasters event in Orlando. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a law enforcement sting operation targeting individuals with warrants. He’s arrested on the spot, but the film crew bails him out shortly after.

However, TJ’s troubles aren’t over. His parole officer Cheryl discovers he lied about his employment and submitted fake paystubs, violating the conditions of his parole. As a result, she has him arrested and sent back to prison for 13 months.

Upon release, TJ is met with Cheryl’s firm but unyielding attitude. This tough love finally begins to take root. He gets a steady job at a local market and starts taking real steps toward change. By the end of the film, TJ has launched a prison outreach program, formed his own LLC, and is making meaningful progress, demonstrating that even after setbacks, purpose can still prevail.