 I got a chance to peep Ice Cube's new flick last night. Entitled 'Next Friday', it's the sequel to 'Fridays' which has become cult classic of sorts. Now over the years Cube has proven to be a good writer and on the movie tip he has improved immensely. With all of Cube's talents and experience, there were a lot of high expectations for 'Next Friday'. So how was the flick? I gotta be honest it's not on the level as 'Friday' Cube may have been better off not to do a sequel but instead to just do a completely different movie altogether. It's hard to top 'Friday'. It's also hard to make the connection from the first plot to the new one he unveils in 'Next Friday'. However, this new movie definitely had its funny moments. In fact some of the scenes were just down right hilarious. It would have been cool if comedian Chris Tucker returned. He claims he's been moving in another direction and is no longer into the type of 'ghetto/urban' humor that was associated with the first movie. However comedian Don 'DC' Curry more then makes up for Tucker's absence. Now the movie itself can best be described as an 'Airplane' or 'Police Academy' from the hood. There is one zany scene after the next but with stereotypical ghetto humor. You have to come into the movie with that in mind in order to appreciate it. Don't expect any sort of political correctness. And don't expect Cube as a writer to fully bring forth his full talent. It ain't there. This is the type of movie you and a bunch of friends go to on a rainy Saturday afternoon and just laugh at. The plot centers around Cube having to move out of South Central and into the suburbs with his rich Uncle Elroy who just won the lottery. Cube is sent out to the burbs to escape the wrath of his nemesis Debo [Tiny Lester] who is bent on getting revenge. If you recall the first movie Friday, Cube beat up Debo who was the neighborhood bully. Debo went to prison, he escapes and his looking for Cube. Once Cube moves to the suburbs his wacky adventures began. Although Next Fridays doesn't live up to the strength of Friday, it does have some strengths. Most notable was the multi-cultural cast Cube employs without 'crossing over' or diluting his product. He has a main white character that hangs out with him and his cousin Day Day. He has some Mexicans characters who are the main antagonist. He has a Korean lady who plays a funny role that isn't what you would expect. All the characters get poked fun off and everyone has a stereotype that gets played up. Cube has everyone from pot heads to baby mommas to a Rick James 'Super Freak character' to a female version of Debo. There's something there for everyone and almost all the characters Cube introduces have a big role. The movie is balanced in this respect. You'll have to see it to know what I'm talking about. Like I said don't expect any political correctness and don't expect this to be an academy award winner or anything like that. Also this isn't a movie for young kids. But if you like slapstick ghetto humor with a slight twist, this is the flick. Most of the people in the audience in last night's screening seemed to think the movie was funny. Try and catch the matinee when the prices are cheaper. If you happen to be in LA, the premier for Next Friday is tonight [Tuesday], Everyone from Ice Cube to Fred Durst of Limp Bizskit are expected to attend. |