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.