It has been twelve years since the last “Barbershop” film “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.” The returning cast members for “Barbershop: The Next Cut” are all older than they were last time. This third entry in the franchise follows its cast and gets more adult with the plot.
“The Next Cut” focuses heavily on the problem of gang violence. While the large cast is exceptionally enjoyable to watch as they discuss issues both serious and not so serious in the barbershop, the movie has something of an obsessive need to work in moments for everyone and leading to a lack of depth. With a main plot that involves a desire by the workers in the shop to reduce gang violence in Chicago and serious discussions about that problem, the lack of depth hinders a full examination of the issue and hurts the film. The first two films discussed the importance of a community, and that community as a whole, by looking at it with more adult eyes, but “The Next Cut” significantly ups the stakes. It no longer feels like the movie takes place in a semi-fictionalized Chicago in a fictionalized U.S. This movie takes place in a more realistic world and deals with real problems happening in the world. The issues in this film feel very real this time around.
One of the problems in the film is that Calvin, played by Ice Cube (“Ride Along 2”) once again offers closing the barbershop as a solution to the violence. We’ve seen this before and it’s just recycling an old idea. In the first film, Calvin wanted to sell the shop so he could do something else (almost anything else) with his life. The second film highlighted the fear that the shop would close when a big barbershop chain moved in across the street. “The Next Cut” goes back to that solution, but uses different circumstances. He wants to open a shop on the North Side because he believes it will be safer, but this weakens the story a little. You can imagine that in the twelve years since the last film there have been no fewer than 50 schemes or fears of Calvin’s involving the barbershop closing. Calvin then merges with the beauty shop next door, where we are introduced to Nicki Minaj’s (“The Other Woman”) character, Draya. We are told this happened during the recession so both businesses could stay afloat. The result is a new dynamic in the shop which definitely adds to things as the men and women pontificate on life and love, but it is also another indication that these struggles are ongoing and that Calvin always has a reason to close the shop.
It isn’t to say that Calvin doesn’t have a good reason every time for this plan or fears, but this time it’s a great reason. As depicted, the violence in the neighborhood is terrible and Calvin has huge fears that his son Jalen, played by Michael Rainey Jr. (“Orange is the New Black”), will become a part of it. Those are important and understandable fears for anyone with children, no matter where they live. However, they’re undercut by the answer to the problem, the specter of the shop closing. The fear of the shop closing is repetitive in the series, but this is a “Barbershop” film, we just have to get used to it.
There are non-gang violence side plots as well; the biggest involving married couple Rashad, played by Common (“The Wiz Live!”), and Terri, played by Eve (“With this Ring”). They are having problems as her stylist career picks up and another stylist, Draya, tries to seduce him. This all proves to be a big time drop that goes nowhere. Even worse, the characters seem uncommitted to the depth of the marital conflict unless the specific scene in question calls for it to be an issue. Then there is a huge fight between Rashad and Terri and Rashad is shown dancing happily in the shop as his wife storms off.
By the time the end of the film comes, every plot in the movie is tied up really nice and pretty. The film creates a happy ending for every character. Everyone is happy and enjoying life by the end. It is pretty clear from early on that the film is headed in this direction and that, too, weakens the film’s attempts to deal with any issue of importance. With that being said this film gives you the same vibes the previous films did. It’s a very enjoyable film and Cedric the Entertainer (“A Haunted House 2”) will have you crying with laughter. POTUS even makes an appearance, which was awesome and enjoyable to watch. At times, the character interactions are relatable and hilarious at times. There’s something wise and enjoyable in the way the members of the shop and community talk about the problems in this film. The best moments in the film have always revolved around the discussions of the barbers and customers. Now a lot of those discussions are about more than just gossip and daily chitchat, they are more focused on the heavy issues of the day. More than that, they’re vocalized in an adult manner.
If the action matched the rhetoric and repartee, “The Next Cut” could have been excellent. Don’t get me wrong, this film still gives you everything a film should, emotional connection to the characters (even though it lacked depth at times), plot and laughs. True “Barbershop” fans should not be disappointed with this film, unless they are tired of the repetitive theme of threatening to close the shop. They should be excited and impressed with the amazing new characters and the new adult tone of the film. Overall it was an enjoyable film.
Rating:4 out of 5
