Barbershop
Review by Clint Morris
 Without
knowing it topped the US box office for several consecutive
weeks running, I strongly doubt anyone would be interested
in a flick unexcitingly titled Barbershop.
But the good news is, the title's about the most lacklustre
thing about the movie - and the rest is a chirpy, raucously
funny and hot water bottle warm trip to the local clip 'n'
snip.
Tim Story's Barbershop is best described as a comedy
with some dramatic elements. Ice Cube plays Calvin, who has
inherited a monetarily struggling barbershop in a high-crime
Chicago neighbourhood from his late father.
His story takes place in a single day, which gives the film
solid forward momentum.
Faced with mounting tax bills and threats of foreclosure
by the bank, Calvin decides to sell his shop to the neighbourhood
loan shark (Keith David). As soon as he does, he knows he
has just kissed goodbye to one of the only spots the locals
can come together and blab with joy, as they've been doing
for many years.
The film's subplot involves a bumbling couple of thieves
(Anthony Anderson and Lahmard Tate), who steal an ATM, only
to get it home and discover they're going to have to go to
hell and back to crack it open.
The movie's best moments occur in the title Barbershop, a
place where "you can talk about whoever and whatever
you want," according to Ed (Cedric the Entertainer),
the shop's resident wise.
Imagine a feature length version of the scene in 1988's Coming
to America when Eddie Murphy plays an onslaught of characters
in an African/American barbershop and you've essentially got
that.
Cube plays one of his most likeable characters to date, giving
him the chance to stretch more than his iniquitous curse muscle.
He's backed by a solid support cast too - Cedric, Sean Patrick
Thomas, Mike Garity and Eve, to name but a few.
After a couple of hours at this Barbershop you'll
feel like the titular characters are old friends - very rare
for a movie like this.
3.5 out of 5
Barbershop
Australian release: Thursday May 22nd
Cast: Ice Cube, Eve, Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick
Thomas, Keith David, Anthony Anderson, Lahmard Tate, Mike
Garity, Leonard Earl Howze.
Director: Tim Story.
Website: Click
here
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