Sept. 26, 2002 – A rap star in a barbershop? An old-fashioned, relaxed, real barbershop? Oh, come on, you say. But the critics say this "Barbershop" actually is a pretty neat place to hang out.
Calvin (Ice Cube, yup, the real one) inherits a barbershop from his dad, then promptly sells it to a loan shark to get money to open a recording studio. Only after learning that the new owner plans to close the shop, open a strip joint and throw the colorful cast of barbers out of work does Calvin have second thoughts about what he has done with his legacy.
The film traces the rest of the day as the wacky barbers, a "lovably quarrelsome bunch," according to David Germain of the Cincinnati Enquirer, do what they gotta do. Germain says the movie "strikes a rare blend of edgy ghetto attitude with communal decency."
But the members of this "Barbershop" quartet minus one — Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick and Troy Garity (backed up by Eve) — are an unusual bunch. Cedric plays an old barber with lots of opinions and no customers; Patrick portrays a highly educated barber with a superiority complex; and Patrick hates the new token white barber, played by Garity, who just wants to cut hair.
So, if you don't really need a haircut but want a sort of rowdy but friendly place to hang out for an hour and 42 minutes, here you go.
Directed by Tim Story, "Barbershop" is rated PG-13 for language, sexual content, and, here we go again, brief drug references. Love those briefs.
And don't worry about the lines — it's playing on two screens at Market Square East.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
