Barbershop: The Next Cut – Movie Review
It’s been twelve years since we last visited Calvin’s Barbershop in “Barbershop 2”. Although it has taken quite a bit longer than I would have expected, I am not at all surprise that we now have gotten “Barbershop: The Next Cut”. This series lends itself well to sequels. They are stories about communities and as times change and people get older, their priorities and personal views shift. Although I can’t say that this third outing is as good as the two previous ones, I will say that there is still plenty to enjoy.
Calvin (Ice Cube), Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), Terri (Eve), J.D. (Anthony Anderson), Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas) and Isaac (Troy Garity) are all back, and they have some new friends. Joining the gang this time around are Rashad (Common), Draya (Nicki Minaj), One-Stop (J.B. Smoove), and Angie (Regina Hall). That is more of the cast, but there are even more.
Set in the South Side of Chicago, Calvin’s Barbershop has been a neighborhood staple for decades. The neighborhood however has seen better days. The rise in gang violence has made Calvin give serious thought to moving his family and his shop to the North Side of Chicago. Calvin fears that his son may not be able to avoid the temptation of joining a gang.
When Calvin and his fellow barbers learn that the city may build a gate around the South Side that would destroy the already struggling businesses, they decide to take action and get the leaders of both gangs to agree to a 72 hour cease fire. In that time, Calvin’s Barbershop will offer free haircuts to the community.
Although gang violence is relevant, I couldn’t help but feel this story-line would have played better around the time the first “Barbershop” film was released. Despite that issue, the cast has such great chemistry and it feels like we are watching real life close friends on screen. I really liked how some of the characters have grown. Terri, who I remembered having quite a temper in the previous film, seems to have mellowed quite a bit. It could be because she is married to Rashad who is also pretty easy going. I love how Eddie is the only character who never ages. He was an old man when the series started, and he looks exactly the same now. He is also still the funniest one there.
“Barbershop: The Next Cut” will be enjoyed by those who liked the first two films. The formula hasn’t changed at all. I am not clamoring for a fourth chapter, but maybe in a decade it would be nice to see where these characters are at in their lives.
By: Marc Ferman