September 20, 2002

By Veronica Mixon

Rapper Ice Cube has learned the film business fast. As actor and producer he has appeared in Boyz in the Hood, Three Kings, All About the Benjamins and Dangerous Ground. In fact, attaching him to a film means that it will open big because you not only have rap fans but youthful urban and suburban kids in the audience. So, it's nice to see him attempting a role as a responsible husband and local businessman.

In Barbershop, Ice Cube plays Calvin, the money-plagued owner of a Chicago barbershop that services as a communal meeting place for the neighborhood men and boys. He not only has a loyal clientele but this is a place where you can pick up the latest gossip and share your opinions regardless of how outrageous they may be. It's an institution - especially since Calvin inherited the place from his father. Every day, people encounter the opinionated senior citizen, JD (Cedric the Entertainer Kings of Comedy); the arrogant college-educated Jimmy James (Sean Patrick Thomas Save the Last Dance); the ex-con, Ricky (Michael Early Bad Company); the only white barber, Isaac (Troy Garity) and Terry (Eve XXX), the only woman and her shy suitor, Dinka (Leonard Howze). They talk and talk and talk - sharing insults and advice to anyone who drops by. During this 24-hour look at Calvin's world and this Chicago neighborhood, he decides to sell the shop to the local loan shark, Lester (Keith David Clockers) and discovers that he's made a big mistake.

Barbershop is a hilarious comic movie with a familiar setting and cast of characters. The tough-talking woman is a sap when it comes to her cheating boyfriend; the ex-con is really a bad guy turned good as gold; the college-educated guy is very insecure and the Hip Hop loving white boy is a cool guy and excellent barber. Nevertheless, these zany caricatures make us laugh out loud.

Of course, Cedric the Entertainer, who has exploded recently on the scene after toiling for years as a standup comic steals the show. He dares to comment on O.J. ("He's innocent!") and Rosa Parks ("She didn't do anything special!") This is brave stuff! And, Anthony Anderson (Two Can Play that Game), who plays a dumb thief who steals an empty ATM machine with equally stupid partner (Lahmard Tate) generates some laughs with numerous sight gags but this minor storyline becomes annoying because it doesn't really contribute to the basic premise.

Unfortunately, director Tim Story fails to make the dramatic arc intense. He's good at setting up jokes but the heartwarming lesson that Calvin learns is co-opted by a quickie ending to the movie. Nevertheless, I don't think fans of Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer and Anthony Edwards will mind.