Movie Review by Anita Kasonkomona
Starring: Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy Garity
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
If you’ve seen the first movie, you’ll love this one, but for those who haven’t seen the first one, BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS has the same plot; the only difference is in the portrayal of the characters being more developed with a lot more humour, sassiness and wit. So for those who haven’t seen the first one, here’s a little light on the plot. BARBERSHOP is about a young man (Calvin- played by Ice Cube) who owns a barbershop but struggling very hard to maintain it due to lack of financial support. He’s also having trouble trying to keep his marriage together as his wife is pregnant with their first child. And there’s more, he’s contemplating whether or not to sell the shop. In the end he decides not to because he realises what an important and valuable asset it is to him in the sense of it being a centre for friendship, laughter, unity and oneness in the community. It’s like having a second family.
In BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS, Calvin has gotten over his money troubles and is no longer in danger of losing his shop, but his neighbourhood is in danger of losing its identity. A money-hungry corporation is proposing ‘regentrification’ of the south-side community, introducing coffee bars, video stores and a haircut franchise called Nappy Cuts, in replacement of the area’s “mom and pop” establishments, which are in danger of losing their hometown advantage.
When Calvin realises that Nappy Cuts is a huge threat to his business and his community, he decides to take a stand and protest against it to the authorities:
“I realise that change is essential, it is well needed and well deserved. But, we will not sell our soul just to make a quick buck, it’s not worth it…People make the community not $5 coffees…lose the people, lose the neighbourhood”.
This scene exemplifies Calvin’s growth as a person. In the first movie he realised that the barbershop was important to keep his own identity but there’s a more profound awareness of what he’s achieved in BARBERSHOP 2.
All the characters appear to have grown up a bit, take for example, Terri (Eve) who tries to find some inner peace but also realises that even with this, she has to remain true to herself: accepting who she really is. There are also newcomers to the shop, Queen Latifah and Kenan Thompson who bring exuberance and even more hilarity to the screen.
There’s definitely a lot more drama, romance and lots and lots of guffawing to be experienced and I predict that this one will be even more of a smash hit comedy than the last one!
