I thought this was a pretty decent flick. I laughed out loud at least twice, which is OK, because this film is not really supposed to be hilarious, just sardonic, mostly. Cedric the Entertainer was good, but not truly believable as an elderly man. Ice Cube turned in a quite good performance. In some of his previous films, I had thought he was pretty good, but rather one-dimensional. ("Anaconda" "Three Kings") Here, he definitely extends his acting range enough to be taken seriously. And wherever the one-named "Eve" came from, she nailed her character. There's a lot more to this movie than the controversial lines from Eddie (Cedric). It was interesting to see some black characters be aware of, and concerned about, the pathologies in the black community. But I guess this is spoken of only in barbershops, or elsewhere away from whites. Overall, definitely worth a look. Grade: B+
167 Reviews
A little off in the front, leave the sides and back
Boyo-217 June 2004
The first thing I have to mention is that one day, I don't know when, but one day Michael Ealy, who plays Ricky, is going to be a major talent. He has an incredible relationship with the camera. He has charisma that you cannot learn in all the drama workshops in creation. He has authentic charm. He does not overplay his character and believe me, it would have been easy to go that route. I've recognized some talent before they became stars, and this guy has it. I could not take my eyes off him for a second. I think a star is born.
Eve is also very good and has a future in movies if she wants one. If she could just keep track of her damn apple juice.
Cedric makes the movie. He's the heart of the movie, the center, and hilarious to boot. I watched this movie three times to make sure I didn't miss any of his dialogue. I've seen MUCH worse performances receive Oscar nominations, and its a real injustice that he was ignored. He's just great.
For an old timer like me, it was also nice to hear The Staple Singers over the closing credits, too.
On the other hand...Ice Cube does not register more than one emotion, the sub-plot w/Anthony Anderson and the cash machine is unworthy of the rest of the movie, and Keith David, who I normally love, is terrible.
This review is not as mixed as it may appear to be. I rated it an '8' mostly cause of Ealy and Cedric. I may not be seeing "Barbershop 2" anytime soon, obviously not because I didn't enjoy the first one, but because I don't support or have interest in sequels. They're not worth the time and all the producers are really saying is that they had an idea, did well with it, now want to exploit every good feeling you had about the first one. Almost no movies require a sequel anyway.
Eve is also very good and has a future in movies if she wants one. If she could just keep track of her damn apple juice.
Cedric makes the movie. He's the heart of the movie, the center, and hilarious to boot. I watched this movie three times to make sure I didn't miss any of his dialogue. I've seen MUCH worse performances receive Oscar nominations, and its a real injustice that he was ignored. He's just great.
For an old timer like me, it was also nice to hear The Staple Singers over the closing credits, too.
On the other hand...Ice Cube does not register more than one emotion, the sub-plot w/Anthony Anderson and the cash machine is unworthy of the rest of the movie, and Keith David, who I normally love, is terrible.
This review is not as mixed as it may appear to be. I rated it an '8' mostly cause of Ealy and Cedric. I may not be seeing "Barbershop 2" anytime soon, obviously not because I didn't enjoy the first one, but because I don't support or have interest in sequels. They're not worth the time and all the producers are really saying is that they had an idea, did well with it, now want to exploit every good feeling you had about the first one. Almost no movies require a sequel anyway.
Very entertaining
lagudafuad26 April 2013
Of all the Ice Cube films this is my favorite, it is filled with raw comedy and it is totally cool. The whole Idea of what trouble it is to steal an ATM machine, and then what happens when you borrow money from the wrong people was like a vehicle to progress when it comes to comedy in this film.
I guess my take on Barbershop is that the acting is very much OK, the comedy is well delivered and always straight to the point, causing you the watcher to make regular withdrawals at the laugh bank. The movie was like a helping hand to acting newcomers Eve and Michael Ealy, and it featured some well-rounded actors like Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer and Keith David.
Barbershop makes you laugh all through and plays on the issue that bothers many, "What matters most me or others?" Well that was the question Calvin Palmer, Jr. had to answer as he (Calvin played by Ice Cube) was faced with a dilemma, he either sells the barbershop and chase his dreams or keep it and continue to slug it out with life.
Well Calvin decided to go with the later, believing his dream is bigger and better so he gave up the barbershop that he inherited from his father by selling it to Lester Wallace (Keith David), who fooled Calvin to thinking he will still keep it as a barbershop when he actually will just keep the name Calvin's Barbershop and turn the shop to a gentleman's bar.
After a while Calvin learnt he had made a big mistake then he decided to take back the money which ended up being the whole problem that the film is based on, well actually that is half of what the film is based on, because let's not forget the theft of an ATM machine by JD (Anthony Anderson) and Billy, who believed that they could pry an ATM machine open with power tools.
I just can't tell you which was funnier to watch, "The tale of the ATM" or "Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) in the barbershop." Both were just funny to the core, and in the end of the whole movie both incident ended up in the middle with everyone going home happy.
The huge success of the movie led to a sequel (Barbershop 2: Back in Business) being done two years later and then a Spin-Off Beauty Shop. Both movies didn't make as much money as the first and didn't get as much critical approval also.
So if you are like me looking for some good homemade laughs, go see barbershop again.
www.lagsreviews.com
I guess my take on Barbershop is that the acting is very much OK, the comedy is well delivered and always straight to the point, causing you the watcher to make regular withdrawals at the laugh bank. The movie was like a helping hand to acting newcomers Eve and Michael Ealy, and it featured some well-rounded actors like Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer and Keith David.
Barbershop makes you laugh all through and plays on the issue that bothers many, "What matters most me or others?" Well that was the question Calvin Palmer, Jr. had to answer as he (Calvin played by Ice Cube) was faced with a dilemma, he either sells the barbershop and chase his dreams or keep it and continue to slug it out with life.
Well Calvin decided to go with the later, believing his dream is bigger and better so he gave up the barbershop that he inherited from his father by selling it to Lester Wallace (Keith David), who fooled Calvin to thinking he will still keep it as a barbershop when he actually will just keep the name Calvin's Barbershop and turn the shop to a gentleman's bar.
After a while Calvin learnt he had made a big mistake then he decided to take back the money which ended up being the whole problem that the film is based on, well actually that is half of what the film is based on, because let's not forget the theft of an ATM machine by JD (Anthony Anderson) and Billy, who believed that they could pry an ATM machine open with power tools.
I just can't tell you which was funnier to watch, "The tale of the ATM" or "Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) in the barbershop." Both were just funny to the core, and in the end of the whole movie both incident ended up in the middle with everyone going home happy.
The huge success of the movie led to a sequel (Barbershop 2: Back in Business) being done two years later and then a Spin-Off Beauty Shop. Both movies didn't make as much money as the first and didn't get as much critical approval also.
So if you are like me looking for some good homemade laughs, go see barbershop again.
www.lagsreviews.com
A 'black' film with a soul. It can be done
shanethomas19010 July 2004
When I first saw the plot and cast for this movie I was filled with little hope that this film would be any more than a stereotypical look at black/urban culture with the characters rhyming words for supposed comic effect ad the scriptwriter fitting a screenplay around the jokes. It us easy to forget that the film's protagonist, Ice Cube (who gave a fine performance) had just come off making the awful 'All About the Benjamins' which fell into the trap of so many of these comedies based around black people. Added to the fact that 'Barbershop' was released when there had been a spate of these sub-standard pictures such as 'How High', Friday After Next' and 'State Property', you can understand why I approached this movie with no expectations.
Thankfully I was proved wrong as 'Barbershop' followed a simple structure to work. It had solid direction, a commendable screenplay, was well acted but more important than any of that, it was a story worth telling and that is the one thing that good films have in common. However, this does not mean that this movie followed the conventional ways of Hollywood and 'sold out' to appeal to a mass audience. If anything pleased me most about the film it was the fact that it retained a true sense of representing the black community and credit for this goes to the high standards of dialogue and acting. People who live in the suburbs can watch in the knowledge that they're getting a window into another culture, while people in urban communities can watch this with a comforting sense of familiarity. Another reason for this is that the screenplay is informed enough to not 'pigeon hole'. The characters are well rounded, with both positive and negative traits and the movie is not surrounded by guns,single mothers and drugs. This is not not to say these issues are ignored, as they are connected with one the film's major plot strands but despite the mass media sterotype (to which not all black people are unaccountable) the 'ghettos' of America are primarily filled with honest, hard-working people who just trying to make the best of an unenviable situation. While previous urban films have made a point of blaming 'whitey' and 'the man' for the troubling issues surrounding black people, 'Barbershop' looks closer to home and encourages black people to take responsibility for themselves and to break away from nature of 'frontin' that is slowly paralysing urban communities. One of the films best quotes is 'Dont buy yourself a Benz when your living with your mama! And black people; please can we be on time for something other than free before 10 at the club'. I think this is a wonderful statement and it encourages black people to reject the notion of style over content as that is what the film does as well.
Added to this the well-rounded nature of the film is a diatribe from Cedric The Entertainer (who's performance is almost as hilarious as his stand-up act) about black icons such as Rosa Parks, Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King. This is probably the most provocative section of the film and initially made me question the validity of these icons but after reflection, it made me realized that even Martin Luther King was a human being with flaws but that doesn't take away from his legacy. Regardless what's been said about Jesse Jackson he's still the first black man to run for President and nothing will ever take that away from him.
While Cedric the Entertainer took most of the acting plaudits, this was a great ensemble piece that was well acted all round. My only gripe is that why can't other films of this nature stay true to black culture but also have a cinematic soul
Thankfully I was proved wrong as 'Barbershop' followed a simple structure to work. It had solid direction, a commendable screenplay, was well acted but more important than any of that, it was a story worth telling and that is the one thing that good films have in common. However, this does not mean that this movie followed the conventional ways of Hollywood and 'sold out' to appeal to a mass audience. If anything pleased me most about the film it was the fact that it retained a true sense of representing the black community and credit for this goes to the high standards of dialogue and acting. People who live in the suburbs can watch in the knowledge that they're getting a window into another culture, while people in urban communities can watch this with a comforting sense of familiarity. Another reason for this is that the screenplay is informed enough to not 'pigeon hole'. The characters are well rounded, with both positive and negative traits and the movie is not surrounded by guns,single mothers and drugs. This is not not to say these issues are ignored, as they are connected with one the film's major plot strands but despite the mass media sterotype (to which not all black people are unaccountable) the 'ghettos' of America are primarily filled with honest, hard-working people who just trying to make the best of an unenviable situation. While previous urban films have made a point of blaming 'whitey' and 'the man' for the troubling issues surrounding black people, 'Barbershop' looks closer to home and encourages black people to take responsibility for themselves and to break away from nature of 'frontin' that is slowly paralysing urban communities. One of the films best quotes is 'Dont buy yourself a Benz when your living with your mama! And black people; please can we be on time for something other than free before 10 at the club'. I think this is a wonderful statement and it encourages black people to reject the notion of style over content as that is what the film does as well.
Added to this the well-rounded nature of the film is a diatribe from Cedric The Entertainer (who's performance is almost as hilarious as his stand-up act) about black icons such as Rosa Parks, Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King. This is probably the most provocative section of the film and initially made me question the validity of these icons but after reflection, it made me realized that even Martin Luther King was a human being with flaws but that doesn't take away from his legacy. Regardless what's been said about Jesse Jackson he's still the first black man to run for President and nothing will ever take that away from him.
While Cedric the Entertainer took most of the acting plaudits, this was a great ensemble piece that was well acted all round. My only gripe is that why can't other films of this nature stay true to black culture but also have a cinematic soul
Target ... group
kosmasp23 March 2023
No pun intended - I had seen this back in the day. And to be honest: this is not my cup of tea overall speaking. But I am not really the target audience. The story itself is quite easy to summarize ... there is not much going on in that department. But the movie does not fool us in thinking this is what it is about. No just the fact it plays in a Barbershop should be enough to tell you, if this is a movie you want to watch. The cast is quite good ... It's crazy to imagine Michael Ealy had not done much before this.
That aside, the stories and the jokes do work - especially to those they are aimed at. I am surprised Eve did not do more movies ... or maybe I did really see her in much ... ok the sequel, but other than that? Also never saw the Beauty Shop or the third Barbershop ... might do that in the future, but will not be a priority ... because again, the movies do not do that much for me ... but I can see that they work as to what they are meant to be.
That aside, the stories and the jokes do work - especially to those they are aimed at. I am surprised Eve did not do more movies ... or maybe I did really see her in much ... ok the sequel, but other than that? Also never saw the Beauty Shop or the third Barbershop ... might do that in the future, but will not be a priority ... because again, the movies do not do that much for me ... but I can see that they work as to what they are meant to be.
Loved it, only one disappointment
leedonm21 September 2002
The story was actually old-fashioned. The young man who choses not to follow traditions, makes a big mistake, and then spends the rest of the movie trying to reverse things. I liked the film. Hadn't seen Ice Cube act before. I thought he was excellent.
My only disappointment has to do with the main reason I went to see the film, i.e., Anthony Anderson. I really liked his work in previous movies, but in this one his role was repetitious and boring. After the first two times we saw him, everything else was more of the same. Lugging that ATM machine around and up and down and in and out. Way too much. Poor writing.
My only disappointment has to do with the main reason I went to see the film, i.e., Anthony Anderson. I really liked his work in previous movies, but in this one his role was repetitious and boring. After the first two times we saw him, everything else was more of the same. Lugging that ATM machine around and up and down and in and out. Way too much. Poor writing.
Funny and heartfelt
MovieLuvaMatt29 June 2003
This is a film that's as smart and funny as it is sweet and heartfelt, without going for cheap sentiment. The film benefits much from the energetic cast and series of interesting characters. Some comedies are good simply for the laughs, but in this case I actually felt for the characters. You leave this film not only laughing, but thinking. And it really does give great insight into black barbershops, where people REALLY say how they feel (this is the first time I've ever seen black people talk trash about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks).
My score: 7 (out of 10)
My score: 7 (out of 10)
silly at times, but all heart, baby
G-Natural1 October 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Here's the deal. Barbershop is a movie by, for, and about Black people... on the surface.
That being said, though, the themes explored in this movie are UNIVERSAL, and the overall vibe of this movie is uplifting enough, and FUNNY enough to rise above the so-so nature of the actual plot.
If you're reading this, I'm sure you know what the plot is about... it's about a barbershop, about one man (Ice Cube's character "Calvin") trying to save it after mistakenly selling it to a loan shark.
Now, I look for different things in different movies. If this was a cop/detective thriller, I would place a lot of value on the tightness of the plot, authenticity through details, etc. If it were a romantic comedy, I would rate the "chemistry" between the two leads. If it were a sports movie, I would rate how well the athletes were shot and/or choreographed in their sporting endeavors.
"Barbershop" had HUGE plot holes in it, most of the characters were cut out of cliches, and --- what's more --- ALL, not some, but ALL --- of the ATM-stealing scenes were tired, insipid, and unfunny. It was a lame attempt at "comic relief" in a movie that didn't need any. As a matter of fact, in my opinion those scenes only served to disjoint the mood of the film, since the crime of ATM-theft was treated seriously by the other characters in the other scenes of the movie, and even ended up [MINOR SPOILER] in a potentially violent resolution at the end, it only made the film more awkward. One minute, it's the sign of a downward spiral in the Black community; the next it's a scene from Home Alone 4: This Time The Idiots Are Black Guys.
HOWEVER --- I was willing to forgive all of those shortcomings because this film has SO MUCH HEART!! Maybe it connected especially well with me because, as a young Black man trying to make powermoves to benefit my family and general community, I've felt the temptation to trade my visions for easy cash. Maybe because I've been a fan of Cedric the Entertainer since his days of hosting BET's ComicView. Maybe it's because it's 1am and my defenses are down.
But I don't care who you are --- you GOTTA give it up for this movie! Once I got past the surface-level depictions (the cheating boyfriend, bumbling crooks, happy immigrant, ex-con thug, etc.) I saw REAL Black people, living through REAL situations. Eve's character was not a hoochie-mama; she was a real woman, with real hurt feelings. Sean Patrick Thomas as the "uppity" educated Black barber -- you could see some of his buried rage and indignity. Michael Ealy as Ricky, the ex-con... there was an almost moving monologue where he shows depth of insight and a clear, level-headed sense of morality.
But the biggest set of kudos have to go to Ice Cube for his portrayal of Calvin. Aside from small scene towards the beginning with his character leading a discussion on various sizes of derriere, Cube's Calvin was a true role model. Real, authentic, having guts and integrity, but also sensitive, caring man trying to take care of his family and live up to his father's legacy as a barber. The scenes with he and his pregnant wife were nothing short of special. I found it almost difficult to believe that this was the same guy who, ten years ago, recorded vicious gangsta rap and made his debut in the gang-warfare epic "Boyz in the Hood." If he spent the last ten years battling his demons, it seems he's put up a good fight.
While "Barbershop" isn't hysterical, it certainly has its genuine moments. There were a whole lot of things that I laughed at, not because they were jokes, but because the people in those situations rang true for me. And even when stuff wasn't particularly realistic, like when two characters were about to fight and suddenly music comes on and everything's better... I still went with it.
Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was cartoonish at times. Yes, there was many things that didn't make a whole lot of sense when viewed through the lens of real life. No, that didn't matter as much to me.
And yes -- I will see it again.
That being said, though, the themes explored in this movie are UNIVERSAL, and the overall vibe of this movie is uplifting enough, and FUNNY enough to rise above the so-so nature of the actual plot.
If you're reading this, I'm sure you know what the plot is about... it's about a barbershop, about one man (Ice Cube's character "Calvin") trying to save it after mistakenly selling it to a loan shark.
Now, I look for different things in different movies. If this was a cop/detective thriller, I would place a lot of value on the tightness of the plot, authenticity through details, etc. If it were a romantic comedy, I would rate the "chemistry" between the two leads. If it were a sports movie, I would rate how well the athletes were shot and/or choreographed in their sporting endeavors.
"Barbershop" had HUGE plot holes in it, most of the characters were cut out of cliches, and --- what's more --- ALL, not some, but ALL --- of the ATM-stealing scenes were tired, insipid, and unfunny. It was a lame attempt at "comic relief" in a movie that didn't need any. As a matter of fact, in my opinion those scenes only served to disjoint the mood of the film, since the crime of ATM-theft was treated seriously by the other characters in the other scenes of the movie, and even ended up [MINOR SPOILER] in a potentially violent resolution at the end, it only made the film more awkward. One minute, it's the sign of a downward spiral in the Black community; the next it's a scene from Home Alone 4: This Time The Idiots Are Black Guys.
HOWEVER --- I was willing to forgive all of those shortcomings because this film has SO MUCH HEART!! Maybe it connected especially well with me because, as a young Black man trying to make powermoves to benefit my family and general community, I've felt the temptation to trade my visions for easy cash. Maybe because I've been a fan of Cedric the Entertainer since his days of hosting BET's ComicView. Maybe it's because it's 1am and my defenses are down.
But I don't care who you are --- you GOTTA give it up for this movie! Once I got past the surface-level depictions (the cheating boyfriend, bumbling crooks, happy immigrant, ex-con thug, etc.) I saw REAL Black people, living through REAL situations. Eve's character was not a hoochie-mama; she was a real woman, with real hurt feelings. Sean Patrick Thomas as the "uppity" educated Black barber -- you could see some of his buried rage and indignity. Michael Ealy as Ricky, the ex-con... there was an almost moving monologue where he shows depth of insight and a clear, level-headed sense of morality.
But the biggest set of kudos have to go to Ice Cube for his portrayal of Calvin. Aside from small scene towards the beginning with his character leading a discussion on various sizes of derriere, Cube's Calvin was a true role model. Real, authentic, having guts and integrity, but also sensitive, caring man trying to take care of his family and live up to his father's legacy as a barber. The scenes with he and his pregnant wife were nothing short of special. I found it almost difficult to believe that this was the same guy who, ten years ago, recorded vicious gangsta rap and made his debut in the gang-warfare epic "Boyz in the Hood." If he spent the last ten years battling his demons, it seems he's put up a good fight.
While "Barbershop" isn't hysterical, it certainly has its genuine moments. There were a whole lot of things that I laughed at, not because they were jokes, but because the people in those situations rang true for me. And even when stuff wasn't particularly realistic, like when two characters were about to fight and suddenly music comes on and everything's better... I still went with it.
Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was cartoonish at times. Yes, there was many things that didn't make a whole lot of sense when viewed through the lens of real life. No, that didn't matter as much to me.
And yes -- I will see it again.
MORE THAN A $10.00 HAIRCUT
camraman4 January 2003
Thanks Ice Cube. You did a great job in creating and showcasing a part of African-American life that was true-to-life. There were so many diverse elements that all came together, they seem too many to mention. But all of the main characters had a measure of character development and an intimacy that you couldn't forget.
Even the minor characters played a big role, such as Lamar (J. David Shanks). Though introduced briefly very early in the movie, he played a major- but again brief- role near the end. Minor character- major input. The robbery of the convenience store: five characters interwoven all with lessons to learn- Craig (Ice Cube), Ricky Nash (Michael Ealy), Detective Williams (Tom Wright), Samir (Parvesh Cheena) and, of course, JD (Anthony Anderson). The timing in various scenes were impeccable. The following sequence: the radio voice of Chicago deejay Howard Magee, Billy's mother (?), Gabby (Jasmine Randle), Billy (Lahmard J. Tate) and JD was wonderfully choreographed.
I know some will say, "Hey, it was predictable. I knew beforehand the resolution of some, most, or all of the character's plights." And that may be true. But it's the manner in which each character was interwoven- how one touched another and yet criss-crossed each other that gave this movie special meaning. How each character had their strengths or weaknesses to overcome. Great stories being told by Mark Brown, Don D. Scott, Marshall Todd and with Tim Story's direction. Every major character was (and is) a character study.
Terence Blanchard does an admirable job supporting the scenes with his score.
And regarding the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks controversy, the writers qualified that diatribe very clearly as it progressed. Did people hear just want they wanted to hear?
Another important feature that I admire was the honesty, sometimes brutal, on other issues such as foreigners owning businesses in the African-American community or how dangerous it can be for anyone living in certain parts of the "ghetto" or how we (yes I'm African-American) help keep each other from prospering.
It wasn't until I started viewing "Barbershop" a second time (and dissecting it) where I saw additional insightful and valuable revelations. An example being Hustle Guy (DeRay Davis). (Dogs and Pampers?) Many times we see the local hustler as a comedic tool, hustling whatever he/she can get their hands on. But he's only trying to earn a living- void of a storefront for lack of investment capital. And we find out how valuable Hustle Guy is, also, before the movie ends. Minor character- major message.
If you haven't seen it, see it. If you've seen it, and just saw it for it's entertainment value, see it again for some valuable lessons.
Not only will it be in my movie collection, but it will be used as a teaching tool for my grandsons (and granddaughters if I'm blessed with any).
Believe it or not, to me, Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer's character) was the most unbelievable. Not that Eddie wasn't valuable, because he was. It was Cedric's interpretation of Eddie and the lack of age lines on his face that was a pure turn off for me. For those reasons, I wanted to remove 1 point. But because of the strength of the other characters and the story, I'm keeping it a 10.
The 7.1 rating as of this writing is an injustice to the quality and caliber of this production.
I give it a $10.00 haircut plus a $5.00 tip.
Great job Ice Cube to you and your production company, Cube Vision. Great job.
Even the minor characters played a big role, such as Lamar (J. David Shanks). Though introduced briefly very early in the movie, he played a major- but again brief- role near the end. Minor character- major input. The robbery of the convenience store: five characters interwoven all with lessons to learn- Craig (Ice Cube), Ricky Nash (Michael Ealy), Detective Williams (Tom Wright), Samir (Parvesh Cheena) and, of course, JD (Anthony Anderson). The timing in various scenes were impeccable. The following sequence: the radio voice of Chicago deejay Howard Magee, Billy's mother (?), Gabby (Jasmine Randle), Billy (Lahmard J. Tate) and JD was wonderfully choreographed.
I know some will say, "Hey, it was predictable. I knew beforehand the resolution of some, most, or all of the character's plights." And that may be true. But it's the manner in which each character was interwoven- how one touched another and yet criss-crossed each other that gave this movie special meaning. How each character had their strengths or weaknesses to overcome. Great stories being told by Mark Brown, Don D. Scott, Marshall Todd and with Tim Story's direction. Every major character was (and is) a character study.
Terence Blanchard does an admirable job supporting the scenes with his score.
And regarding the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks controversy, the writers qualified that diatribe very clearly as it progressed. Did people hear just want they wanted to hear?
Another important feature that I admire was the honesty, sometimes brutal, on other issues such as foreigners owning businesses in the African-American community or how dangerous it can be for anyone living in certain parts of the "ghetto" or how we (yes I'm African-American) help keep each other from prospering.
It wasn't until I started viewing "Barbershop" a second time (and dissecting it) where I saw additional insightful and valuable revelations. An example being Hustle Guy (DeRay Davis). (Dogs and Pampers?) Many times we see the local hustler as a comedic tool, hustling whatever he/she can get their hands on. But he's only trying to earn a living- void of a storefront for lack of investment capital. And we find out how valuable Hustle Guy is, also, before the movie ends. Minor character- major message.
If you haven't seen it, see it. If you've seen it, and just saw it for it's entertainment value, see it again for some valuable lessons.
Not only will it be in my movie collection, but it will be used as a teaching tool for my grandsons (and granddaughters if I'm blessed with any).
Believe it or not, to me, Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer's character) was the most unbelievable. Not that Eddie wasn't valuable, because he was. It was Cedric's interpretation of Eddie and the lack of age lines on his face that was a pure turn off for me. For those reasons, I wanted to remove 1 point. But because of the strength of the other characters and the story, I'm keeping it a 10.
The 7.1 rating as of this writing is an injustice to the quality and caliber of this production.
I give it a $10.00 haircut plus a $5.00 tip.
Great job Ice Cube to you and your production company, Cube Vision. Great job.
the political argument is the best scene
lee_eisenberg5 January 2024
This admittedly silly comedy shows the lives of some people working in a barbershop in inner-city Chicago over the course of a winter day. The movie deals with things like poverty and gentrification. Mind you, it does so in a completely goofball manner. Ice Cube, Keith David, Eve, Anthony Andersen, Jazsmin Lewis, Troy Garity (Jane Fonda's son), Tom Brown, Michael Ealy, Sean Patrick Thomas and Cedric the Entertainer have lots of fun with the material.
Personally, my favorite scene in "Barbershop" was the political argument, mainly for how Cedric the Entertainer's character put out his lines. As to the controversy about that scene, let's realize that it was just acting. And some damn funny acting at that!
All in all, a good time.
Personally, my favorite scene in "Barbershop" was the political argument, mainly for how Cedric the Entertainer's character put out his lines. As to the controversy about that scene, let's realize that it was just acting. And some damn funny acting at that!
All in all, a good time.
ALMOST TERRIBLE
braddvi11 May 2003
I watched almost all of this movie hoping it would live up to its IMDB rating. There were a few funny comments, but in toto it was a very disappointing waste of time.
The sad part is that I understand they are making a sequel... "you can fool me once, but..........".
The sad part is that I understand they are making a sequel... "you can fool me once, but..........".
One of the best films of the year in my opinoin
DunnDeeDaGreat14 September 2002
I had very high execpations walking into Barbershop today and my execpations went way past what I thought. Barbershop is clealry one of the best films I've seen all year. The story is a simple one but the film acutally goes into depth anout how important a barber shop is to the Black Amercian community or any ethnic group for that matter. Ice Cube gives an NAACP Image award worthy performance in the film as Calvin. Cube is cool and charamistic as Calvin the owner of the shop and his supporting cast of Sean Patrick Thomas ( who counties to make a name for himself), Eve ( great debut), Leonard Howze and Mike Ealy all give good performances. Troy Gairty as Issac the white barber and Cedric The Enterainer as the elder barber steal all almost every scene their in. Lahmard Tate and Anthony Anderson along with Keith David also do well in the two subplots. Tim Story has made a great debut and Mark Brown's script is excellent. Get lined up for this one.
Here we go again. Another racially-black Comedy
MC ReXX28 February 2003
Honestly, I'm getting sick of tired of racially-black comedies. I was told that this one was "different." It didn't have all the cliches that every other racially-black comedy did. So I watched it.
Was a different? Not very much. 75% of it was still cliched. Now, if I review a movie based on that premise, I give it a 7/10. Compared to other comdies, 5/10.
One good thing is, they address the problems with the cliches. Which is why I gave this movie a normally higher rating then I think it deserved.
If you got nothing better to do, watch this movie. If you do, DO THAT INSTEAD by all means.
Was a different? Not very much. 75% of it was still cliched. Now, if I review a movie based on that premise, I give it a 7/10. Compared to other comdies, 5/10.
One good thing is, they address the problems with the cliches. Which is why I gave this movie a normally higher rating then I think it deserved.
If you got nothing better to do, watch this movie. If you do, DO THAT INSTEAD by all means.
BAD movie! A tiresome string of lame and insulting cliches
bopdog29 September 2002
"Barbershop" is a deceptively BAD movie. The surface level setup is appealing, and almost critic-proof. Note the ensemble cast, non-standard "non-plot," virtually all black cast, "real people" patois, etc. The all white college-town theater audience I attended the movie with gave numerous "art-house chuckles"--- those self-conscious and forced public laughs that self-appointed phony-artsy "cognoscenti wannabes" whip out for foreign movies such as "Amelie" and off-center domestic fare such as "Barbershop."
[Please note, "Amelie" was a GOOD movie--- but not a great one, in my opinion. The fawning and toadying over it by the artsy wannabes was the only unpleasant thing about it. "Barbershop" is not even good, however, so the fawning of the wannabes is not just unpleasant, it is actually embarrassing (recall the old fairy tale wherein the emperor walks around naked while the toadying subjects trick themselves into admiring his "new clothes"). Well, same here: "Barbershop," in my opinion, is one totally naked dude!
The characterizations in "Barbershop" were thin and tiresome media cliches. Everyone was depicted as mean, selfish, dishonest, stupid, and argumentative. Sure, such people DO exist in all cultures and all communities--- but somehow the collection and presentation here was unconvincing, and actually insulting. "Barbershop" is the worst kind of artistic laziness, because it parades itself as bold, truthful, somehow real-life and nitty-gritty, where in fact it is a sloppy rehash of old TV characters and already passe college-circuit tripe. Overall, the movie is lame and boring.
Upon arriving home from "Barbershop," I flipped on the TV for something entertaining, and I saw 20 minutes of Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America." Murphy's movie has its faults too, but is very entertaining, if light, fare. Watching one of the barbershop scenes in "Coming to America," I saw a quick, brilliant, and effective execution of the entire concept that "Barbershop" the movie struggled with, yet failed to deliver.
So, if you want a truly funny version of "a day in life" of an inner-city barbershop populated with diverse and endearing characters, go out and rent something else. I gave "Barbershop" a 1 out of 10.
[Please note, "Amelie" was a GOOD movie--- but not a great one, in my opinion. The fawning and toadying over it by the artsy wannabes was the only unpleasant thing about it. "Barbershop" is not even good, however, so the fawning of the wannabes is not just unpleasant, it is actually embarrassing (recall the old fairy tale wherein the emperor walks around naked while the toadying subjects trick themselves into admiring his "new clothes"). Well, same here: "Barbershop," in my opinion, is one totally naked dude!
The characterizations in "Barbershop" were thin and tiresome media cliches. Everyone was depicted as mean, selfish, dishonest, stupid, and argumentative. Sure, such people DO exist in all cultures and all communities--- but somehow the collection and presentation here was unconvincing, and actually insulting. "Barbershop" is the worst kind of artistic laziness, because it parades itself as bold, truthful, somehow real-life and nitty-gritty, where in fact it is a sloppy rehash of old TV characters and already passe college-circuit tripe. Overall, the movie is lame and boring.
Upon arriving home from "Barbershop," I flipped on the TV for something entertaining, and I saw 20 minutes of Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America." Murphy's movie has its faults too, but is very entertaining, if light, fare. Watching one of the barbershop scenes in "Coming to America," I saw a quick, brilliant, and effective execution of the entire concept that "Barbershop" the movie struggled with, yet failed to deliver.
So, if you want a truly funny version of "a day in life" of an inner-city barbershop populated with diverse and endearing characters, go out and rent something else. I gave "Barbershop" a 1 out of 10.
Talk About a Real Clip Joint....In More Ways Than One.
tfrizzell11 February 2004
Hilarious picture that is held together just well enough by a somewhat mediocre screenplay to be one of the funnier movies of the past few years. In inner-city Chicago barbershop owner Ice Cube hates where his life is at. He has a very pregnant wife (Jazsmin Lewis) and is drowning in debt due to his late father's apparent lack of business sense. He looks at the shop as a burden and wants to unload it to shady neighborhood businessman Keith David (and his very large bodyguard DeRay Davis). What Cube does not realize is just how important the business is to many in the neighborhood and he also fails to realize that David cares nothing about the people and wants to turn the place into a gentleman's club. Some of the other cutters include intellectual Sean Patrick Thomas, West African immigrant Leonard Earl Howze, racially confused white boy Troy Garity, two-time criminal Michael Ealy, lonely and out-of-place Eve (who is involved with two-timing boyfriend Jason Winston George) and priceless veteran barber/loud-mouth Cedric The Entertainer (very politically incorrect as well). Simultaneously two local losers (Anthony Anderson and Lahmard Tate) have stolen an ATM machine from a convenient store near Cube's barbershop. The two try and try to get the money that is not even inside out with painstakingly outlandish results. Unwittingly they have taken an empty money machine. African-Americans like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson rubbished this movie as being demeaning and rude to black communities. This was never the intention of the film-makers (I don't think). Cedric has a tongue of acid here as he takes on Jackson, Sharpton, O.J. Simpson, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Rodney King and even Walter Payton. I believe the real point of Cedric's character is to show that the titled location is a place of comfort and respect, regardless of an individual's views or perspectives. In this regard it makes you realize just what a close-knit group the characters are to each other. All the players are very different and sometimes don't like one another, but still they respect and welcome everyone else. Overall I liked the project (even though it is not the most fundamentally effective film ever made by a long-shot). Comedic timing and fresh characters make a sub-par script and ho-hum direction look much better than they really are. Watch for former Michigan Fab-Fiver and current NBA standout Jalen Rose as one of the many diverse customers. 4 stars out of 5.
silly at times, but all heart, baby
G-Natural30 September 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Here's the deal. Barbershop is a movie by, for, and about Black people... on the surface.
That being said, though, the themes explored in this movie are UNIVERSAL, and the overall vibe of this movie is uplifting enough, and FUNNY enough to rise above the so-so nature of the actual plot.
If you're reading this, I'm sure you know what the plot is about... it's about a barbershop, about one man (Ice Cube's character "Calvin") trying to save it after mistakenly selling it to a loan shark.
Now, I look for different things in different movies. If this was a cop/detective thriller, I would place a lot of value on the tightness of the plot, authenticity through details, etc. If it were a romantic comedy, I would rate the "chemistry" between the two leads. If it were a sports movie, I would rate how well the athletes were shot and/or choreographed in their sporting endeavors.
"Barbershop" had HUGE plot holes in it, most of the characters were cut out of cliches, and --- what's more --- ALL, not some, but ALL --- of the ATM-stealing scenes were tired, insipid, and unfunny. It was a lame attempt at "comic relief" in a movie that didn't need any. As a matter of fact, in my opinion those scenes only served to disjoint the mood of the film, since the crime of ATM-theft was treated seriously by the other characters in the other scenes of the movie, and even ended up [MINOR SPOILER] in a potentially violent resolution at the end, it only made the film more awkward. One minute, it's the sign of a downward spiral in the Black community; the next it's a scene from Home Alone 4: This Time The Idiots Are Black Guys.
HOWEVER --- I was willing to forgive all of those shortcomings because this film has SO MUCH HEART!! Maybe it connected especially well with me because, as a young Black man trying to make powermoves to benefit my family and general community, I've felt the temptation to trade my visions for easy cash. Maybe because I've been a fan of Cedric the Entertainer since his days of hosting BET's ComicView. Maybe it's because it's 1am and my defenses are down.
But I don't care who you are --- you GOTTA give it up for this movie! Once I got past the surface-level depictions (the cheating boyfriend, bumbling crooks, happy immigrant, ex-con thug, etc.) I saw REAL Black people, living through REAL situations. Eve's character was not a hoochie-mama; she was a real woman, with real hurt feelings. Sean Patrick Thomas as the "uppity" educated Black barber -- you could see some of his buried rage and indignity. Michael Ealy as Ricky, the ex-con... there was an almost moving monologue where he shows depth of insight and a clear, level-headed sense of morality.
But the biggest set of kudos have to go to Ice Cube for his portrayal of Calvin. Aside from small scene towards the beginning with his character leading a discussion on various sizes of derriere, Cube's Calvin was a true role model. Real, authentic, having guts and integrity, but also sensitive, caring man trying to take care of his family and live up to his father's legacy as a barber. The scenes with he and his pregnant wife were nothing short of special. I found it almost difficult to believe that this was the same guy who, ten years ago, recorded vicious gangsta rap and made his debut in the gang-warefare epic "Boyz in the Hood." If he spent the last ten years battling his demons, it seems he's put up a good fight.
While "Barbershop" isn't hysterical, it certainly has its genuine moments. There were a whole lot of things that I laughed at, not because they were jokes, but because the people in those situations rang true for me. And even when stuff wasn't particularly realistic, like when two characters were about to fight and suddenly music comes on and everything's better... I still went with it.
Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was cartoonish at times. Yes, there was many things that didn't make a whole lot of sense when viewed through the lens of real life. No, that didn't matter as much to me.
And yes -- I will see it again.
That being said, though, the themes explored in this movie are UNIVERSAL, and the overall vibe of this movie is uplifting enough, and FUNNY enough to rise above the so-so nature of the actual plot.
If you're reading this, I'm sure you know what the plot is about... it's about a barbershop, about one man (Ice Cube's character "Calvin") trying to save it after mistakenly selling it to a loan shark.
Now, I look for different things in different movies. If this was a cop/detective thriller, I would place a lot of value on the tightness of the plot, authenticity through details, etc. If it were a romantic comedy, I would rate the "chemistry" between the two leads. If it were a sports movie, I would rate how well the athletes were shot and/or choreographed in their sporting endeavors.
"Barbershop" had HUGE plot holes in it, most of the characters were cut out of cliches, and --- what's more --- ALL, not some, but ALL --- of the ATM-stealing scenes were tired, insipid, and unfunny. It was a lame attempt at "comic relief" in a movie that didn't need any. As a matter of fact, in my opinion those scenes only served to disjoint the mood of the film, since the crime of ATM-theft was treated seriously by the other characters in the other scenes of the movie, and even ended up [MINOR SPOILER] in a potentially violent resolution at the end, it only made the film more awkward. One minute, it's the sign of a downward spiral in the Black community; the next it's a scene from Home Alone 4: This Time The Idiots Are Black Guys.
HOWEVER --- I was willing to forgive all of those shortcomings because this film has SO MUCH HEART!! Maybe it connected especially well with me because, as a young Black man trying to make powermoves to benefit my family and general community, I've felt the temptation to trade my visions for easy cash. Maybe because I've been a fan of Cedric the Entertainer since his days of hosting BET's ComicView. Maybe it's because it's 1am and my defenses are down.
But I don't care who you are --- you GOTTA give it up for this movie! Once I got past the surface-level depictions (the cheating boyfriend, bumbling crooks, happy immigrant, ex-con thug, etc.) I saw REAL Black people, living through REAL situations. Eve's character was not a hoochie-mama; she was a real woman, with real hurt feelings. Sean Patrick Thomas as the "uppity" educated Black barber -- you could see some of his buried rage and indignity. Michael Ealy as Ricky, the ex-con... there was an almost moving monologue where he shows depth of insight and a clear, level-headed sense of morality.
But the biggest set of kudos have to go to Ice Cube for his portrayal of Calvin. Aside from small scene towards the beginning with his character leading a discussion on various sizes of derriere, Cube's Calvin was a true role model. Real, authentic, having guts and integrity, but also sensitive, caring man trying to take care of his family and live up to his father's legacy as a barber. The scenes with he and his pregnant wife were nothing short of special. I found it almost difficult to believe that this was the same guy who, ten years ago, recorded vicious gangsta rap and made his debut in the gang-warefare epic "Boyz in the Hood." If he spent the last ten years battling his demons, it seems he's put up a good fight.
While "Barbershop" isn't hysterical, it certainly has its genuine moments. There were a whole lot of things that I laughed at, not because they were jokes, but because the people in those situations rang true for me. And even when stuff wasn't particularly realistic, like when two characters were about to fight and suddenly music comes on and everything's better... I still went with it.
Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was cartoonish at times. Yes, there was many things that didn't make a whole lot of sense when viewed through the lens of real life. No, that didn't matter as much to me.
And yes -- I will see it again.
Barbershop (2002)
fntstcplnt4 April 2020
Directed by Tim Story. Starring Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Michael Ealy, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy Garity, Anthony Anderson, Lahmard Tate, Keith David, Eve, Leonard Earl Howze, Jazmin Lewis, Jason Winston George, Kevin Morrow, Tom Wright. (PG-13)
The social comings, goings, and inner-workings of a barbershop on the South Side of Chicago over the course of a day. Fitfully entertaining comedy has a fine sense of community and rapport, and lots of good conversation bits inside the store; when the film focuses on casual interplay and character conduct, it usually works. The narrative, however, is cluttered with a manufactured crisis from a loan shark sub-plot and constant cutaways to the hijinks of a pair of criminals (Anderson, Tate) trying to break into a stolen ATM machine (amusing at times, but enough is enough after a while). Director Story struggles to arrange all the messy pieces, but a fine cast makes the most out of the uneven writing; Cedric the Entertainer steals the show as an old-timer who doesn't seem to actually do any work but has no qualms about sharing his opinions, no matter how controversial they might be. Followed by two sequels, a spin-off ("Beauty Shop"), and a television series.
61/100
The social comings, goings, and inner-workings of a barbershop on the South Side of Chicago over the course of a day. Fitfully entertaining comedy has a fine sense of community and rapport, and lots of good conversation bits inside the store; when the film focuses on casual interplay and character conduct, it usually works. The narrative, however, is cluttered with a manufactured crisis from a loan shark sub-plot and constant cutaways to the hijinks of a pair of criminals (Anderson, Tate) trying to break into a stolen ATM machine (amusing at times, but enough is enough after a while). Director Story struggles to arrange all the messy pieces, but a fine cast makes the most out of the uneven writing; Cedric the Entertainer steals the show as an old-timer who doesn't seem to actually do any work but has no qualms about sharing his opinions, no matter how controversial they might be. Followed by two sequels, a spin-off ("Beauty Shop"), and a television series.
61/100
I am pleasantly surprised.
tommonster3k8 April 2004
I'm a white guy who grew up in the suburbs, yet I found myself connecting with just about every major character in this film.
"Barbershop" goes above and beyond expectations, as it refuses to let itself get hung-up on the usual cliches of urban comedy. It's edgy without being offensive, and it's sentimental without being sappy.
Ice Cube is a charismatic lead, but it's the quirky, everyday characters surrounding and supporting him, and the dynamics between them, that really make the film as special as it is.
Cedric the Entertainer does a fine job as the old man with "seniority" who freely spouts out his own unique brand social and political commentary that often comes out of left field. His comedic personality produces more chuckles than belly laughs, but it's genuine, honest humor, a breath of fresh air for a movie of this kind. His character doesn't turn into a clown; he always comes off as an eccentric, but the kind of eccentric that you really might find at a barbershop, and the kind that means well and is easily loveable.
In fact, the whole cast of characters of the barbershop crew has an overall genuine feeling of honesty to it. They're not just two-dimensional stereotypes; they're people with real problems, real feelings--people we can root for and sympathize with.
"Barbershop" is a genuinely funny, well-made, and, I believe, much needed film about people. And not just black people, but about humanity in general, about the things that make us all who we are. It's got plenty of heart AND soul.
8/10 stars
"Barbershop" goes above and beyond expectations, as it refuses to let itself get hung-up on the usual cliches of urban comedy. It's edgy without being offensive, and it's sentimental without being sappy.
Ice Cube is a charismatic lead, but it's the quirky, everyday characters surrounding and supporting him, and the dynamics between them, that really make the film as special as it is.
Cedric the Entertainer does a fine job as the old man with "seniority" who freely spouts out his own unique brand social and political commentary that often comes out of left field. His comedic personality produces more chuckles than belly laughs, but it's genuine, honest humor, a breath of fresh air for a movie of this kind. His character doesn't turn into a clown; he always comes off as an eccentric, but the kind of eccentric that you really might find at a barbershop, and the kind that means well and is easily loveable.
In fact, the whole cast of characters of the barbershop crew has an overall genuine feeling of honesty to it. They're not just two-dimensional stereotypes; they're people with real problems, real feelings--people we can root for and sympathize with.
"Barbershop" is a genuinely funny, well-made, and, I believe, much needed film about people. And not just black people, but about humanity in general, about the things that make us all who we are. It's got plenty of heart AND soul.
8/10 stars
Ice Cube just gets better
wayupnorth16 September 2002
This is a very satisfying movie. The plot may be a little tired, but the characters and the actors who play them bring a fresh and very irreverent face to it. Ice Cube sometimes doesn't bring quite enough facial expression to his characters (he too often has the blank look of the straight guy)but here his face is finally registering some of the emotion he usually lets his words convey. Cedric the Entertainer is a hoot, and I was very happily surprised by Eve, who was just good fun to watch as Terri, the girl who just isn't quite as tough as she wants to be. Yes, the movie is very funny, but it's also a nice depiction of the little lives that go on whether we see them or not. And on a slightly more strident note, this movie offered some things that you just don't see enough of, particularly in movies with all (or almost all) black casts: a married man who is excited about his wife's pregnancy, room for varied views on civil rights history, and the racism that African Americans can force on themselves in the absence of white people. And all handled with subtlety and respect.
I LOVED this movie
wtnally23 May 2006
always comparing, this is not as funny as bad Santa or the classic, Airplane! but i seriously could NOT stop laughing on this movie. Eddie cracks me up with his discussion on racism and Jesse Jackson. "Man fu@% Jesse Jackson!" This is more than just a comedy, it has a meaning to it. one of the few comedies with a meaning to it, and a good one. if you liked Friday, next Friday, any of Anthony Anderson's films of any comedies, check this out! i watched this over and over the first time i bought it. i HIGHLY recommend this movie to any movie buff or anyone period. Tim Story's best film by far with the only films i know by him being fantastic 4, which i hated and taxi, which was OK. 10/10
It's not Friday but good watch
drpainters21 April 2020
Uninvolving rehash of other movies
Mikelito15 September 2007
Not every movie can be entirely original. But it's annoying to see obvious rip-offs from other movies combined with a lack of talent for story-telling (or in this case scene-telling). Obvious references which are simply taken and copied only with much lesser intelligence are: Coming to America, Big Lebowski, Do The Right Thing, Carwash, etc.
For instance the car smashing scene: It isn't even done well, the guy takes forever to notice that his car is being smashed, then he runs out on the street and there isn't a single funny line. The scene is straight out of Big Lebowski (a movie I didn't like and found less original than almost everyone else but at least there was some craft involved in the making of that particular movie).
And this happens all the time: people talk and do the most obvious things. No twists, no clever dialogue, just a shallow and flat deliverance. It sometimes even feels as if there was no script at all. People seem to have a general idea of a scene then just went along to see if anything (funny) would happen.
It's all good and fine to try to capture alleged everyday life but this requires a skill. The "jokes" throughout the movie have Police Academy quality. i.e. they are primitive, slap-sticky and have been seen a million times. Fat guys are just fat and that is supposedly funny enough. For them to quote and make fun of Rosa Parks, MLK has absolutely no reason or twist or whatever. At one point in the movie guys talk about being entitled to reparation payments like Jews for the Holocaust. It's mystifying what all these touchy subjects that appear out of nowhere in the movie are supposed to be doing for a film that seems to want to be a light-hearted snap-shot of some inner city neighbourhood.
It seems someone just wanted to cram every possible subject into a setting without rounding if off in any way thinking you can just loosely tie together scenes and ideas (from others), then mix in a few controversial subjects and voilà: Here's your masterpiece. Well: it didn't work.
For instance the car smashing scene: It isn't even done well, the guy takes forever to notice that his car is being smashed, then he runs out on the street and there isn't a single funny line. The scene is straight out of Big Lebowski (a movie I didn't like and found less original than almost everyone else but at least there was some craft involved in the making of that particular movie).
And this happens all the time: people talk and do the most obvious things. No twists, no clever dialogue, just a shallow and flat deliverance. It sometimes even feels as if there was no script at all. People seem to have a general idea of a scene then just went along to see if anything (funny) would happen.
It's all good and fine to try to capture alleged everyday life but this requires a skill. The "jokes" throughout the movie have Police Academy quality. i.e. they are primitive, slap-sticky and have been seen a million times. Fat guys are just fat and that is supposedly funny enough. For them to quote and make fun of Rosa Parks, MLK has absolutely no reason or twist or whatever. At one point in the movie guys talk about being entitled to reparation payments like Jews for the Holocaust. It's mystifying what all these touchy subjects that appear out of nowhere in the movie are supposed to be doing for a film that seems to want to be a light-hearted snap-shot of some inner city neighbourhood.
It seems someone just wanted to cram every possible subject into a setting without rounding if off in any way thinking you can just loosely tie together scenes and ideas (from others), then mix in a few controversial subjects and voilà: Here's your masterpiece. Well: it didn't work.
Sweet, Fun Film (If You Understand Urban Black Culture)
thespeos1 June 2021
I think most reviewers are probably white, and subsequently, don't understand or appreciate urban black culture or humor. I'm white, but grew up with it intimately during the 1960's and 1970's. So my experience, and perspective, is (likely) quite different.
This is an excellent film, with a simple but great story, lots of relevant and fun sub-plots, and it's very well acted. That's a lot of praise coming from me, but it's deserving. Again, if you've lived your whole life "white," then your sentiments are likely not so endearing.
STORY: A very simple, but wholesome story (sans the cursing and "booty" talk), that reflects both the struggles and small heroism of what it means to grow up black and in the city. The sub-plots are appropriately spawned and managed well (often a difficult task), and each provides a distinct value to the story: a crime has been committed, lover's quarrel, husband and wife, black civil rights , being educated, being white in the black world, etc. Simple, but very well told.
ACTING: I am often both angry and encouraged about black actors. There is sooo much talent among black actors, but they rarely get good parts (very rarely a lead in a predominantly white world). I am sick of poor white actors when there are sooo many good black actors available. The acting here is exactly what it should be, and it's excellent.
TEMPO: Nicely moving film, with nothing drawn out or skipped over.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: There's not a lot of landscape here, but for what it covers it's fine. Keep in mind, most of the story happens in or around the "Barbershop."
DIRECTING: The director appears to have had little feature-film directing prior to this, so I must say he pulled off a winner considering. All told, a very good job.
I thoroughly enjoy this film (watched ~ 3x), and strongly recommend it with the caveat that if you're hard-core white ... it may not resonate.
This is an excellent film, with a simple but great story, lots of relevant and fun sub-plots, and it's very well acted. That's a lot of praise coming from me, but it's deserving. Again, if you've lived your whole life "white," then your sentiments are likely not so endearing.
STORY: A very simple, but wholesome story (sans the cursing and "booty" talk), that reflects both the struggles and small heroism of what it means to grow up black and in the city. The sub-plots are appropriately spawned and managed well (often a difficult task), and each provides a distinct value to the story: a crime has been committed, lover's quarrel, husband and wife, black civil rights , being educated, being white in the black world, etc. Simple, but very well told.
ACTING: I am often both angry and encouraged about black actors. There is sooo much talent among black actors, but they rarely get good parts (very rarely a lead in a predominantly white world). I am sick of poor white actors when there are sooo many good black actors available. The acting here is exactly what it should be, and it's excellent.
TEMPO: Nicely moving film, with nothing drawn out or skipped over.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: There's not a lot of landscape here, but for what it covers it's fine. Keep in mind, most of the story happens in or around the "Barbershop."
DIRECTING: The director appears to have had little feature-film directing prior to this, so I must say he pulled off a winner considering. All told, a very good job.
I thoroughly enjoy this film (watched ~ 3x), and strongly recommend it with the caveat that if you're hard-core white ... it may not resonate.
What a nice surprise!
jnlmom26 September 2002
My husband and I saw Barbershop last night and we enjoyed every minute of it. The whole audience was laughing through the whole thing. Yes, I agree the ATM scenes were silly, but they were suppose to be. Lighten up, critics! I really liked the way it portrayed each character as a human being first - not by their race. The short speech given by the ex-con in the barbershop was so right-on. And Cedric made some very powerful political statments that might make some people squirm, but I'm glad he said them. I'm very impressed with the way the "white guy" in the shop played his role. He could have been a token "cracker" but he played the part very well, and was true to who he really was. I've always been a fan of Ice Cube and Cedric, and this just helps to reaffirm it. I'm recommending this movie to everyone. We can all learn some things about acceptance and civility from this one. Thank you, thank you for showing us how similar we all are, Ice Cube!! A+
not worth the watch
taibaliaqat30 August 2015
I watched this movie with high hopes after reading so many positive reviews on it. All I can say is I am greatly disappointed. Firstly there's so much pointless dialogue which I assume was intended to be funny but it most definitely wasn't.
I love Ice Cube and his appearance in other movies such as 22 Jump Street and of course Are We There Yet. There were a few heart warming moments which were then quickly ruined by the cheesy and rather cliché storyline. Some people may have different views but this movie just wasn't my idea of an entertaining comedy/drama. It was instead a great waste of my time; I had to stop watching half way through!
I love Ice Cube and his appearance in other movies such as 22 Jump Street and of course Are We There Yet. There were a few heart warming moments which were then quickly ruined by the cheesy and rather cliché storyline. Some people may have different views but this movie just wasn't my idea of an entertaining comedy/drama. It was instead a great waste of my time; I had to stop watching half way through!
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