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'Barbership' mingles laughter and lather
By BILLY NORRIS
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 16, 2002
Movie: Barbershop
Rating: PG-13
Summary: This is an urban comedy set in the south side of Chicago. Calvin (Ice Cube) is the owner of a barbershop that was passed down from his grandfather to his father to him. The shop is home to a misfit group of barbers who spend their time socializing with each other and their regular patrons.
But Calvin doesn't seem to have the same appreciation for the barbershop that his relatives did, and his spontaneity and tendency to go for "get rich quick" schemes put him in an awkward position. He considers selling the shop to a loan shark who has a few tricks up his sleeve that Calvin's not prepared for.
My View: With a story based around the saying "Money isn't everything," this film didn't turn out half bad. Initially, some of the slang was hard to understand, but it got easier as the movie progressed. The casting was great! Each character's look and personality were unique and well-suited. This cast was down-home believable. All in all, the movie was good.
Favorite Part: Standup comedian Cedric the Entertainer's character, Eddie, wins the prize in this one. He plays the old, nostalgic barber who has been there for as long as any of them can remember. He rants and raves and rambles on about topics as irrelevant as fried chicken and Don King and as important as Rosa Parks, although his take on her is distinctive. Some of it almost put me in tears, I was laughing so hard.
Least Favorite Part: This flick isn't near the best I've seen this year, but it's not deserving of any major complaints.
Recommendations: If you need a good laugh, you'll find it here, but take notice of the PG-13 rating because of all the adult-themed humor.
Grade: B-
-- Billy Norris, 14, in the ninth grade at Seminole High School, is a former member of the Times X-Team.
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