I was a bit hesitant to watch "Barbership 2". That's because I really liked the first film--and so often sequels never come close to the quality of the originals. Well, clearly "Barbership 2" is not up to the standards of the first, though fortunately there still is a lot to like. So, it's a disappointment....but a minor one.
At the end of "Barbershop", the shop's owner (Ice Cube) is able to keep the shop from being bought out and its future seems secure. Well, now only a short time later, the future of this independent shop is once again in doubt, as a haircut chain store is moving right across the street. The new shop has everything--glitz, a basketball court inside the store, an aquarium and style. So it looks like the quaint old place is about ready to go belly up as soon as the new place opens for business. In addition to this plot, the old characters are back and have changed in a variety of ways--mostly for the better.
One big difference between this and the first film is the presence of many flashback scenes featuring Cederic the Entertainer's character back in the late 1960s. While these flashbacks are all very interesting since the times were so explosive, I really wish they'd put this in a separate movie, as they seemed more like filler and distracted from the rest of the film. So, either remove these segments OR stretch them into a film in their own right. As it was, it felt awkward.
Overall, while the film wasn't quite the original in quality and originality, it was entertaining. Plus, as I liked the old film so much, it was like visiting with old friends here in "Barbershop 2".
At the end of "Barbershop", the shop's owner (Ice Cube) is able to keep the shop from being bought out and its future seems secure. Well, now only a short time later, the future of this independent shop is once again in doubt, as a haircut chain store is moving right across the street. The new shop has everything--glitz, a basketball court inside the store, an aquarium and style. So it looks like the quaint old place is about ready to go belly up as soon as the new place opens for business. In addition to this plot, the old characters are back and have changed in a variety of ways--mostly for the better.
One big difference between this and the first film is the presence of many flashback scenes featuring Cederic the Entertainer's character back in the late 1960s. While these flashbacks are all very interesting since the times were so explosive, I really wish they'd put this in a separate movie, as they seemed more like filler and distracted from the rest of the film. So, either remove these segments OR stretch them into a film in their own right. As it was, it felt awkward.
Overall, while the film wasn't quite the original in quality and originality, it was entertaining. Plus, as I liked the old film so much, it was like visiting with old friends here in "Barbershop 2".