Barbershop: The Next Cut

Each Barbershop movie has been preachier than the last, culminating here with a movie written by Kenya Barris, a dude who just preaches & preaches. Borders on after school special territory at points. That said I’ll give it the tiny edge over the second one since Cedric the Entertainer doesn’t take it over so much, and Nicki Minaj is some of the most eye-popping eye candy I’ve seen in any movie lately, god damn. Every time the camera’s off her you’re like get back on Nicki now plz lol

Interesting “dark and gritty” reboot for these characters and their milieu – this pulls out some of the political commentary that was burbling in the background of the previous entries and shoves it front and centre to so-so success, but it is to be commended by not doing a "threepeat" and actually trying something new – these characters (especially Cube and Cedric) are more than capable of supporting it. If only the "hang-out" sequences meshed better with the gang violence elements.

I liked how they decided to try out something different with the plot this time around. Not as funny as the other Barbershops, but it was better than Barbershop 2.

Some of the serious Chicago and gang-related material is good, but the bits in the barbershop - about race and gender relations - feel dated and tired. Only Lamorne Morris is funny.

Barbershop: The Next Cut is stagey, often simplistic and it talks too damn much. But, hell, the talk has flavor and snap and a real-world sense of a community in crisis. Not bad for an escapist romp.

Despite going overboard with the social commentary and being somewhat questionable in its realism--barbers typically don't earn enough to live that well--the 3rd installment in the long running series adds fresh new characters and topical themes to save it from the nostalgia heap. It works because the characters are likeable enough to overlook the corny but well meaning pro-community sentiments, and Cedric The Entertainer is, as usual, the clear standout as the grizzled old jive talking Eddie.

Tries to be this generation's Do The Right Thing meets Casablanca and tries to speaking to the youth. It fails miserably on all levels. Makes me question whether or not this was a movie or a soapbox

Very predictable. Only good thing about Barbershop TNC is that it shows how ridiculous it is to hate, and hurt, eachother. For whatever reason. 25/100.

Half-assing the stereotyping. I know they're trying to preach to the misguided youth by talking to them 'in their own language', but all that was embarrassing to watch for a white dude. Can't see that 'reaching' anybody. Oh, and I know we're living in a age of abnormal asses, but watching Nicki Minaj thaaaang is like watching some CGI going bad.

Cut out all the Common-Nicki Minaj not-affair scenes and this is a pretty good, even great film.

It's funny, that is for sure. But the plot is a bit too muddled to give us coherence.

Characters speak eloquently about the importance of establishing justice and peace in a racially strained world, then others mouth off about their mutual loathing of all whites. A community-wide stand against gun violence plays out as sincere and inspiring, then is given a ham-fisted let's-wrap-this-up-already resolution. The film somehow makes you feel like you're simultaneously watching a well-oiled ensemble showcase and binge-watching a series of scatterbrained and predictably offensive sitco

There were some funny gags, times I audibly chuckled, but it needed more hilarious jokes that made me bust a gut in order to get to the upper echelon of the genre and have a spot in the movie comedy pantheon. However, due to the genuine sentiment present, I was invested in it even when it wasn't making me laugh. There's real heart in the writing and performances and the actors have great chemistry. I'm a white person.