Barbershop
For a film that pretends to be a comedy much of the time, "Barbershop" just might be a little too "serious" for its own good.Not that a comedy shouldn't try to do more than just get laughs. But attempts by this ensemble film to impart a message are so heavy-handed that they instead pummel the audience.
Also, its constant posturing robs what is at times a surprisingly sweet character piece of vital energy. And for a movie that is trying to make a point, it's a surprise to see "Barbershop" subscribe to racist and misogynistic stereotypes.
Rapper-turned-film-entrepreneur Ice Cube funded the movie through his own production company, and he stars as Calvin Palmer, owner of the title shop, a small business located on Chicago's south side. Calvin inherited the family business from his father, but what he'd really like to do is start a recording studio, which would allow him to make more money and to be closer to his pregnant wife.
However, Calvin has a lot of customers counting on him, not to mention his motley crew of employees. In that last group, there's Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas), a college student with a serious chip on his shoulder; an ex-con, Ricky (Michael Ealy); and Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), an opinionated old-timer.
First-time director Tim Story, a crony of Ice Cube, does point the camera in the right places (though some of camera angles — such as use of a "Batman"-cam — could be questioned). But he has the annoying tendency to linger after the punchline, and his lethargic pacing makes the film seem much longer than its relatively short running time.
Frankly, Story is fortunate to have this cast. Ice Cube is naturally charismatic, even if he still mumbles his lines. And you can see Cedric the Entertainer pushing the material to be funnier than it is. However, the usually funny Anthony Anderson is awful as Ricky's shifty cousin, whose subplot drives the film's second half.
"Barbershop" is rated PG-13 for occasional use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called R-rated curse word) and racial epithets, violence (beatings and slapstick, mostly done for laughs) and some crude humor (some sexual and body-function references). Running time: 102 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com