"Barbershop 2"
Two years ago we met all the clients and employees of
Calvin's Barbershop on Chicago's South Side. From the
earnest, hard working Cal (Ice Cube) to the irreverent
Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), we got to know and
like all of the players as they banded together to
save their beloved shop. Now, they are all back, once
again, and things pick up where they left off in
"Barbershop 2."
Calvin Palmer, in the previous film, had come to
understand the importance his barbershop as an
integral part of the community. Calvin's Barbershop is
more than just a place to get a haircut. It is a
gathering place for the locals where they can play
checkers, chew the fat or, in the case of Eddie, have
a forum for social commentary. (Who can forget Eddie's
tirade on Jesse Jackson and Rosa Parks in
"Barbershop.") But, there is change taking place in
the 'hood and Cal and company must face a new problem
- the Nappy Cutz franchise is opening a new shop right
across the street from Calvin's business.
The new black gentrification of the South Side is
embraced by the other shop owners on the block who see
the Nappy Cutz incursion as a means to sell their
businesses, make a fast buck and get out of town. They
approach Cal, whom all respect, and ask him to join
them in the property sales. With Calvin's involvement,
they know that their profits will be even grander.
Calvin has a crisis of conscience as he debates the
pros and cons of making a deal with the slick real
estate developer responsible for the new, trendy shops
that threaten to replace the "mom & pop" shops - a
staple in the South Side.
"Barbershop 2" is a logical extension of the original
film where Calvin learned the importance the
barbershop he inherited from his late father. The
shop, he found out, defines him as a businessman and
as a respected member in the community. In the sequel,
Cal discovers just how important his little business
is to the neighborhood and the people in it. All of
the crew from the original are back, with some
additions, and director Kevin Rodney Sullivan, working
with the script from Don D. Scott, fleshes out each
character in a way that builds upon what we learned of
them in the original.
Calvin is the patriarch of his shop and its crew as
they go about their day-to-day lives cutting hair and
cutting up. Ice Cube softens his usual gruff demeanor
in the role of Cal. Lady barber Terri (Eve) is still
the object of affection for African-born Dinka
(Leonard Earl Howze) but, it turns out, Ricky (Michael
Ealy) also has an amorous eye for the pretty cutter.
Eddie still dominates the conversations in the shop
and pontificates on any and all things, such as
comparing the DC sniper to baseball player icon Jackie
Robinson. Eddie's dedication to Calvin and his
barbershop is given good shrift as the story flashes
back to July 4, 1967, when he first appeared at Calvin
Sr's while running from the cops. His story continues
as such events as the death of Martin Luther King and
the riots it spawned grip the South Side of Chicago.
Eddie proves to be a real hero, we realize.
Troy Garity returns as Isaac, the token white barber
in the shop who takes great pride in his hair cutting
skills and is not loath to say so. Sean Patrick Thomas
reprises his role as Jimmy, the one barber who broke
free of the shop to take a high profile job with the
ward's alderman. New to the shop is Cal's cousin,
Kenard (Kenan Thomson), a recent graduate from barber
school with far more confidence than his abilities
warrant. Queen Latifah appears, in a small role, as
Gina, the owner of the beauty shop next door. (Note:
"Barbershop 2" is preceded by a preview of the spin
off movie, "Beauty Shop," starring Latifah. Otherwise,
her appearance in this film is of little consequence.)
The humor evinced in the first film continues in the
sequel and, while not uproariously funny, has enough
laughs and humor of all sorts to keep the viewer
satisfied. "Barbershop 2" shows a maturity over the
original, making it a worthy sequel. I give it a B.
For more Reeling reviews visit www.reelingreviews.com
robin@reelingreviews.com
laura@reelingreviews.com
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X-Language: en
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X-RT-RatingText: B
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