BARBERSHOP

US, 2002, 102 minutes, Colour.
Ice Cube, Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Troy Garity, Michael Ealy, Keith David.
Directed by Tim Story.

Barbershop is one of those popular American comedies, like the Friday series, starring Ice Cube.

The action takes place over one day in the aforesaid barbershop, owned by Calvin, Ice Cube, who had inherited it from his father, but Calvin wanting to sell it and going into a deal with the gangster played by Keith David. He wants to build a studio for his sister. He takes the payment but later changes his mind and there is some drama with Keith David wanting twice the money, but ultimately caught with stolen goods and Calvin having a hold over him.

There was a range of characters, of course, in the shop, especially those working there including Sean Patrick Thomas as an educated young man continually clashing with the only white man working there, Isaac, Troy Garity (Jane Fonda son). Then there is the local identity, Eddie, sitting there all day and talking, played by Cedric the Entertainer. Eve also works in the shop, has marriage and boyfriend problems, and is upset that everybody is drinking her juice from the refrigerator. One of those working there, Ricky, has a criminal background and is suspected of the robbery of an automatic money machine, stolen and carried on his truck.

The subplot, with Anthony Anderson about the stealing of the machine and the traipsing all around the city, up and down stairs, provide some slapstick, if a touch laboured, comedy.

Director, Tim Story, was to go on to direct two of the Fantastic Four films.

1. An American comedy? Target audience? Black Americans? All Americans?

2. The focus on the black American community, Chicago, the range of characters, families, businesses, the barbershop, the centre for people to gather, criminal elements…?

3. Chicago, the city, the streets, the barbershop, apartments, warehouses, jails? The musical score?

4. Calvin, owning the barbershop, inheriting it, his concern about his sister, setting up the studio, needing the money, his decision to sell, the gangster, the downpayment, the contract, wanting to get out of it, the gangster’s refusal, doubling the price?

5. Calvin in the shop, the clientele, the range of people coming in for haircuts, shaves? For conversation? Those working in the shop, Ricky and his criminal background, Jimmy James and his education, making comparisons? Isaac, white, the clashes with Jimmy, his place in the black neighbourhood? Ambitions to have his own shop? Eddie, the elder, sitting in state, the conversations, his remarks, his disappointment at Calvin wanting to sell?

6. Terri, her work in the shop, people drinking her juice, going to her boyfriend’s place, his being with another woman, the clashes with him, his coming to the shop, pleading?

7. Lester Wallace, smug, the way he was dressed, boss, wanting the shop, to become a club, his hold over Calvin?

8. The subplot of J.D. and his associate, stealing the automatic money machine, the comedy of carting it around the city, getting up the steps with the fat man, in the apartment, the slapstick comedy, finishing up in the warehouse? Calvin catching them, Ricky and his being arrested, interrogated, let go, helping Calvin, seeing the stolen parts with Lester Wallace, and their hold over him, not selling the shop?

9. Rejoicing at the end, everybody dancing – with the sequel soon to come, and a later one almost 15 years later.