Barbershop

Rating:
Summary: "Barbershop " was thoroughly enjoyable!
Review: "Barbershop" from a story and screenplay by Mark Brown, was the stepchild of director Tim Story. You can almost feel the collaboration between the unsung acting talents of Ice Cube, who is marvelous, and Story as they weave together what might have been a stereotypical story into an ensemble comedy of depth.

Barbershop moved rapidly from the screen to the stores in DVD, but the production values of its DVD extras are all there - and I especially enjoyed the outtakes! Some slapstick comedy involving the theft of an ATM is a little tedious, but necessary for the conclusion of the story; the ability of Ice Cube's character to grasp what he really has in the Barbershop...a place of camaraderie and mixing of generations, is a revelation.

The supporting cast is strong and works well together; of course natural funnyman Cedric the Entertainer stands out as Eddie,(and somewhat surprisingly received a lot of backlash for his characters take off on black icons like Rosa Parks and Rodney King)...Eddie's been with the shop since it opened in 1958. He doesn't do much any more, but he's the heart and funnybone of just about every discussion that takes place. Of the rest of the cast, young Michael Ealy stood out for me as Ricky Nash. He gives off an intensity on the screen that more experienced actors just didn't seem to match.

You'll feel good at the end of Barbershop, you'll be amused, have had some outright laughs, and loved the closeness of the characters and their way of life. A fine movie that begs for a sequel!

Rating:
Summary: Come Join the Conversation
Review: "Barbershop" has all the spontaneous, freeform looseness of good improvisational theater. Indeed, the Mark Brown/Don D. Scott/Marshall Todd screenplay consists of little more than a series of fast-paced and witty conversations among some barbershop employees and their customers on the Southside of Chicago - with just enough "plot" thrown in to hold it all together.

This shop is more than just a place to have your hair cut - it functions as the agreed-upon location where the men of the neighborhood can come and have their say and propound their views on every possible topic, from politics to personal relationships, from race relations to the latest news from the local quarter. It's when the conversation turns to politics that the writers really let loose, allowing one character, the aged and sage Eddie, to unload a volley of epithets aimed at some of the most revered sacred cows of the African American community. Eddie, like most "colorful" characters, says exactly what he thinks and is allowed to get away with it. His age and life experience give him a certain carte blanche to verbalize sentiments that no one else would dare to utter. As such, he is a total refreshment in this age of super-sensitivity and political correctness.

The film really has two storylines going at the same time: one involving the theft of an ATM machine from a market across the street, and the other, the attempt by Calvin, the shop's owner, to renege on a deal to sell the place to a local loan shark who wants to turn it into a nightclub. The former provides an opportunity for some low comedy, burlesque bits that are quite funny at times. The latter gives the film its emotional depth, as Calvin comes to appreciate just what it is that makes this shop so very special a place. Yet, it is when the film gets away from its plot and concentrates on the verbal sparring among its many characters that "Barbershop" is at its most incisive.

More than any film of recent memory, this one relies on what can truly be called an "ensemble" cast. Each member is given a few key scenes or moments to sketch in his or her character before another one comes forth to usurp the spotlight. Only Calvin, played endearingly by Ice Cube, and Eddie, brilliantly realized by Cedric the Entertainer, are allowed to attain more than their share of prominence. However, despite being given less screen time, the rest of the cast is equally skilled in bringing their finely etched characters to life. Director Tim Story does an effective job keeping this essentially one-set work from becoming ponderous and static, and he knows how to zoom in on just the right character at each given moment.

"Barbershop," though it may seem iconoclastic and even anti-establishment at times, ultimately comes out foursquare in favor of good, old-fashioned values like honesty, hard work and commitment to a dream. The film may peter out a bit in its final scenes, winding up with a halfhearted resolution that shows, indeed, that the "plot" is the least important element to the filmmakers involved here. These men obviously just love the characters they've assembled - and all that affection spilling off the screen is what makes "Barbershop" so much fun for us in the audience as well.

Rating:
Summary: A Cut above the rest!
Review: "Barbershop" is a warm and funny comedy which appeals to the audience. People can relate to the characters in this movies because theyre' portrayed with realism and warmth. The talented ensemble cast includes Ice Cube and the very funny Cedric the Entertainer.

When Calvin Palmer (Cube) sells his cherised family barbershop to a shady loan shark, he realizes how his parlor is so important to his Chicago neighborhood that he'll to lengths to get it back.

This film is speaks to all kinds of people, especially to African Americans, I think. Many people will disagree with me because the film pokes fun at famous cultural black icons, including Rosa Parks and Jesse Jackson. People who are offended must realize that the film is honest. The film was meant to have the characters speak there minds and feelings toward the audience.

BARBERSHOP just feels a genuine film, with a great cast who portray truthful characters and big laughs which pleases the audience.

Rating:
Summary: A "Cut" Above the Rest.
Review: "Barbershop" was one of those films I slept on when it was released in theatres in 2002 (actually, I slept on a LOT of films in 2002, but that's for another conversation). Its cast, premise, and success at the box office made me take a mental note to check out the DVD, and having finally done so, I can now understand why it was so warmly received. While "Barbershop" won't exactly change the rules of filmmaking, it's a carefree and easygoing comedy that's guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Ice Cube is in good form as Calvin, the owner of a barbershop that's been running for three generations. But when he gets into a financial pinch, desperate times call for desperate measures, so he gets into shady business with a loan shark who threatens the shop's future. So will Calvin lose his shop for good? I won't say, but I will note that "Barbershop" is a sure-fire crowd pleaser with good performances from Cedric the Entertainer (hilarious as an opinionated barber from the old-school), Eve as the sassy Terri ("Who drank my apple juice?!"), and Sean Patrick Thomas as the smarter-than-thou Jimmy James, who will never let you forget that he has a college education. The plot wears a wee bit thin if predictable, but for a feel-good film this agreeable, you have to be a serious killjoy to turn your nose at "Barbershop."

Rating:
Summary: BarberShop
Review: "Go Uptown and Get on the Chair" I make references in the title to the 1970's Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier pairings as well as a later Spike Lee project that put together varying personalities to what amounted to mtvs real world and road rules in african American movie form. Ice Cube is forever the educated thug. In character and in personal interviews he is keen and articulate in his observation of race relations and social class. Both play out heavy in this film and considering his star power, it is likely that he gave the stamp of approval regardless of who's name is in the credits. It's a safe bet to predict that Ice Cube and writers of Barber Shop enjoyed Uptown Saturday Night, Get On the Bus, Car Wash and Shaft. Although set in 1998, cast members over 40 typically dress in a manner that would have Superfly taking inventory on his closet. The Barber Shop is the set for what turns out to be politically incorrect on film. There are jokes spread through out the dramedy most notably by way of two bumbling robbers, however the funniest stuff are the subtle moments in which a little boy looks at a grown barber in disgust or the way the taye diggs-like barber fends of an attacking eve who suspects he drank her apple juice. The punch line is that the Diggs-like character on one hand memorizes maya angelo's "still i rise", yet is just as quick to feed into an argument over a beverage. This probably was not written as a punch line, yet I enjoyed moments like this in which you read in or note facial changes much more than the over the top cedric material. As we look at positive images and look at clowns with skepticism, I note that Barber Shop appeared to have more good than bad. I wish Cedric's character had not been so contrived and he had not laughed so much at his own jokes. I wish the thieves had not been so self-effacing. At the end of the day, the Barber Shop appears to be a place that many African Americans (and now others judging by sales)are familiar with, and in this case a place in which we could come to enjoy. In Mayburry fashion, there are no real bad guys in the whole film. The music was good while adding a dance challenge scene to a marvin gaye goody as well as a cool sympathetic middle eastern character were all nice touches.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent in Several Respects
Review: 'Barbershop' is a superb film on several levels including its humor, drama, gustiness, and slick, understated style. The seemingly simple plot revolves around a barbershop that has been owned by three generations of the same family. The third owner, Calvin (played by Ice Cube), has grander plans for his life, but when presented with the opportunity to sell the barbershop, Calvin discovers that it is a far more important than he ever realized. Although, ramshackle and scarcely profitable, the barbershop represents a neighborhood institution. As the oldest employee tells Calvin, it is a place where a man could come to feel good about himself for an hour and where he could have some serious conversation. It was, in the employee's words, a black man's country club. Faced with the understanding that he possess much more than a run down business in the Southside of Chicago, Calvin must make a difficult decision. Much to the credit of the film, and to Ice Cube's performance, Calvin's decision is handled without sentimentality or melodrama.

This film garnered a lot of controversy because of the many negative statements one of the principle characters makes about hallowed, black civil rights leaders. It is important to recognize that while this character denigrates one famous black civil rights leader after another, this is NOT the film's definitive statement about those individuals. The purpose of the film, as the director and several cast members made clear is to show what life is like for the employees and patrons of the barbershop. How do they interact with each other? What do they talk about? What do they think is important? While, I've personally never been in a black owned barbershop in Chicago, the scene in which one of the characters lambastes the famed civil rights leaders struck me as immensely real. In any social situation, there will probably always be at least one person with a contrary opinion, who attacks even the sacred idols of society. We've never even certain if this character means it. We know that he is participating in an important daily event in the barbershop; he is having some serious conversation.

To my surprise, one of my favorite parts of the DVD was the extras section at the end, which, is well worth checking out. In this section, the filmmakers describe the extraordinary though and detail that went into every aspect of the film, from the floor plans and features of the barbershop, to the clothes each character wore. Director Tim Storey's narrative of the making of the film shows an extraordinary degree of intelligence and craftsmanship. While this film takes place in the black owned business in a predominantly black neighborhood, its themes are universally applicable to any social community in the world. And while the film examines complex racial issues in a bold and edgy manner, it never stoops to sentimentality or provocation. Definitely worth seeing, especially on DVD.

Rating:
Summary: FUNNY AND WITTY
Review: A BARBERSHOP OWNER [ICE CUBE] SELLS HIS BARBERSHOP, WHICH USED TO BELONG TO HIS DAD, TO A LOAN SHARK [KEITH DAVID]. BUT LATER, HE REGRETS IT AND HE TRYS TO BUY BACK HIS BARBERSHOP. VERY HILLARIOUS AND VERY WITTY. WAS CONTROVERSIAL WHEN RELEASED 2 YEARS AGO DUE TO SOME JOKES ABOUT SUCH IMPORTANT BLACK HISTORICAL PEOPLE LIKE ROSA PARKS AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER STEALS THE SHOW IN THIS MOVIE AS THE ELDERLY BARBER, EDDIE. I DEFINITELY RECCOMEND THIS MOVIE TO ALL COMEDY FANS. IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH THE TIME AND THE MONEY. FOLLOWED BY A SEQUEL.

Rating:
Summary: classy and intelligent, a surprising film
Review: A film by Tim Story

The barbershop has been a neighborhood institution in the African American community. It is the place that, historically, black men could gather together and talk about anything, from politics to religion to sports and not have to worry about white society. Long after the politics of the Civil Rights movement, the barbershop remains an important cornerstone of the neighborhood.

The barbershop in question here is owned by Calvin (Ice Cube). It has been in the family for fifty years and while Calvin dreams (and tries) grander things, he also wants the shop to succeed. Unfortunately, the shop is not making much money (the reason for that is debated throughout the movie), and Calvin goes to a loan shark for help. It is too late when he realizes his mistake and now the barbershop is under a serious risk of being closed for good. Meanwhile there is a strange subplot about a couple of guys who stole an ATM and are trying to get the money from it. Everything ties together in the end, in a surprising way.

This seems to be a fairly simplistic description, but the heart of the movie is actually in the barbershop and the dynamic of the relationships that we see there. I expected this to be another "dumb comedy", but this is actually fairly classy and intelligent and worth seeing. This should not be dismissed as a genre film, but is honestly a good movie. "Barbershop" costars Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve, and Sean Patrick Thomas.

-Joe Sherry

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, Comedic, and Thought Provoking
Review: A large group of friends and I went to see this movie tonight, and I was pleasantly surprised. One thing that detracts from this movie is the fact that it wasn't really as funny as I thought it would be. However, the spotlight of this movie is the heated discussions within the barbershop, between Cedric the Entertainer, Seann Patrick Thomas, Checker Freddy, and the White Barber.

We all know the plot by now, so I'll just say that while the subplot of the stolen ATM machine is pretty hysterical (and it does, in fact, serve a purpose) what I remember most is the different characters. This movie gives depth and dimension to a whole host of characters in a short amount of time, and I find that very impressive. There's the hothead unlucky-in-love Eve who is always going back to her nogoodnik lyin' cheatin' no-good scoundrel of a boyfriend, Checker Freddy, who's in cahoots with the infamous Eddie, played by Cedric the Entertainer. Ricky (I'm not sure of the actor's name but he is FINE, ladies, SO HOT) is a very interesting character, with a shady past, but a heart of gold. Seann Patrick Thomas plays a collegiate with a superiority complex. However, the character that steals my heart is the White Rapper. He's such a good character deep down that you'd love him if he was in FuBu and a dorag or a pinstripe suit with fedora. The final showdown between him and SPT (hee hee hee) is very gratifying.

It makes me happy to see a movie that portrays black people as a mature, well-informed and intelligent group of people. Characters are not looked down on, and they bring up very important issues in this movie. In the end, I felt very happy I'd gone to see this movie.

All in all, I would recommend this film to anyone. This movie is a joy to watch!

Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming, urban magic
Review: Although "Barbershop" didn't make its deserved mark on the box office, this should definitely be a rental for anyone wanting a funny, light-hearted tale about keeping things real and remembering what's important.

The story centers around Calvin, a 30-something barbershop owner whose get-rich-quick fever reminds me of Ralph Kramden of "The Honeymooners". Inheriting both the barbershop and its debts from his father, Calvin desperately wants to "buy Stedman's (Oprah's boyfriend) guest house" by producing a platinum record and becoming wealthy to support his wife and future child. Seeing the barbershop as a money pit, he impulsively sells it to a crooked loan shark. Realizing how important the barbershop is to the neighborhood, his employees, and himself, he begins an earnest quest to get the barbershop back.

The ensemble that works in the barbershop is a comfortable group of cozy characters. Cedric the Entertainer plays the senior leader in the shop, entertaining the customers and the employees with his brash opinions and uncouth comedy. Eve plays the girl with attitude and a good heart who keeps ending up with the wrong guy. Sean Patrick Thomas plays the intellectual of the cast, constantly chided by his peers as being a "sell out" who believes his education makes him better than everyone else.

I could go on forever about the engaging cast, but to sum it up, SEE THIS MOVIE! The characters are strong, the story is great, and, although not necessarily the award-winning film of the century, it is an entertaining story of family and friendship.