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Bad hair day
by CarlosC (movies profile)
Oct 17, 2006
15
of
17 people found this review helpful
Ice Cube and the cool gang from BARBERSHOP (2002) return for a second buzz in this hackneyed and formulaic sequel that appears to believe that rehashing a first, successful movie is good enough. In a way, it's hard to blame them because much of the draw of BARB 1 was the genuine sense of place, familiarity and atmosphere of the warm, authentic setting created by Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, and Eve. We liked the conversation, the camaraderie, and the vibe of the place. BARB 2 tries to recreate the formula, but it has fizzled out.
As before, the main crisis involves the continuing struggles of a small, Black business owner trying to save a heartfelt spot on the block against the gentrification and commercialization of developers and name-brand chains. In its best moments, BARB 2 unmasks the enemies of the black community and reveals that they are often internal and self-contained forces rather than the traditional, external foes, "the system" and "the man." BARB 2 is bold in this respect, firmly proclaiming we've seen the enemy and they is us. However, although the premise is bold, the execution is tired and clunky. The bad guys here, although unconventional in that they are fellow African-Americans (Robert Wisdom plays a smooth-talking, Jesse Jackson-like corrupt politico), end up being stock villains rather than three dimensional people who have lost their way.
As in the first movie, Cedric the Entertainer holds court on the floor of the BARBERSHOP as the wise-cracking and fast talking old-timer Eddie. We get a little bit of the back-story concerning Eddie, in an attempt to place Ice Cube's business in the context of history and the Civil Rights movement, that is somewhat strained. Nonetheless, the effort is laudable and gives some of the plot machinations a slightly more merit worthy tinge than they would have if this were just another mindless comedy. Again, these flashbacks serve to prove that sometimes the Black community's worst enemy is not racist cops but other African Americans.
Unfortunately, BARB 2 cannot hold itself together. The jokes and carrying on at the BARBERSHOP (billed as the place where you could say anything you want) do not come off as urgent and fresh as they did the first time around. The history and social commentary is sometimes noble, but often uneven. Finally, the portion of the plot dealing with Ice Cube's fight against commercial developers and corrupt politicians -- which culminates in a big, flat, and insipid speech by our hero before a town council -- is an unmitigated disaster. Other parts of the plot are superfluous and unwieldy, like the presence of Queen Latifah, whose peripheral plot permanence leads us to wonder: are you in or out, Girl?
The best way to follow up the first BARBERSHOP movie is by simply watching *it* over again. |
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