Posted: 02/11/2004

Barbershop 2: Back in Business

(2004)

by Clint Fletcher

For the sake of rapper-turned-actors everywhere, I will lay all Ice Cube jokes aside (until the last paragraph). Considering I’ve already bashed him enough within the past month, I figured I could give all true fans a break…that is if they really exist. Sorry! No more, starting NOW! But in all seriousness, for every male rapper out there attempting to maintain an acting career, there is a FEMALE rapper attempting a career as well. In the case of Barbershop 2, its Eve and Queen Latifah. Every once in a while, bad actors in great numbers can create a manageable environment for viewers. This is one of those times.

Cube is back as Calvin, and so is everyone else from the original, with the exclusion of the truly painful loss of Anthony Anderson, whose character went to jail the first time around. So what’s up with the old gang now? Absolutely nothing, that is until a bigger, flashier and more commercial haircut chain moves in right across the street. In fear that the notorious “Nappy Cuts” will put him out of business, Calvin engages in not-so-drastic measures by throwing a barbeque for customers and making minor changes to the look of his shop. Does the shop survive the new competition? Sadly, we never find out, for the new shop doesn’t even open until the last scene in the movie. This brings me to my first point in the film’s defense: story structure. This film could’ve easily turned into another typical plot where a small business gets competition from a more modern, upscale competitor (ala You’ve Got Mail and Good Burger) but it sticks mostly to the same ole structure that was introduced in the original. Barbershop 2 doesn’t feel like it really has a plot at all. Instead, it feels more like a visit with a bunch of old friends that always make you laugh.

I guess the question of the hour is, does part 2 outdo part 1 as far as laughs? The honest answer is “no.” The brutally honest answer is “not even close.” While BS-2 has some great laughs lurking within its tight hour and a half running time, there is just too much lingering crap in between the jokes that makes the majority of this movie another trip down boring-sequel lane. Most scenes will either be monumental on the laugh-o-meter or just not funny at all. And as the movie dives into its second act, the story takes one too many breaks from the humor, especially at times when they are needed the most (to salvage bad writing).

But of course, I stick to my belief that every film has at least ONE redeeming quality. BS-2’s redeeming quality is, you guessed it: Cedric The Entertainer. Thankfully, we see more of him than executive producer Ice Cube himself, with numerous flashbacks that explain the connection between Cedric’s character (Eddie) and the barbershop. Kudos to the film makers for giving him the freedom once again to express his improvisational skills (since obviously that is what he’s doing). Golden moments that deserve to be noted include the barbeque aka cuss-out match between Cedric and Latifah, and a very amusing scene involving a wealthy politician getting his hair accidentally buzzed off by the guy from Good Burger (recent SNL member Kenan Thompson).

Barbershop 2 certainly isn’t a sequel for the books, but it was a truly nice attempt. For those of you that liked the first, its worth a look. But hurry before the dreadful Beauty Shop comes out later this year and ruins the franchise…Icecubesucks…

Clint Fletcher is a Chicago writer and filmmaker.

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