"Barbershop" is a deceptively BAD movie. The surface level setup is appealing, and almost critic-proof. Note the ensemble cast, non-standard "non-plot," virtually all black cast, "real people" patois, etc. The all white college-town theater audience I attended the movie with gave numerous "art-house chuckles"--- those self-conscious and forced public laughs that self-appointed phony-artsy "cognoscenti wannabes" whip out for foreign movies such as "Amelie" and off-center domestic fare such as "Barbershop."
[Please note, "Amelie" was a GOOD movie--- but not a great one, in my opinion. The fawning and toadying over it by the artsy wannabes was the only unpleasant thing about it. "Barbershop" is not even good, however, so the fawning of the wannabes is not just unpleasant, it is actually embarrassing (recall the old fairy tale wherein the emperor walks around naked while the toadying subjects trick themselves into admiring his "new clothes"). Well, same here: "Barbershop," in my opinion, is one totally naked dude!
The characterizations in "Barbershop" were thin and tiresome media cliches. Everyone was depicted as mean, selfish, dishonest, stupid, and argumentative. Sure, such people DO exist in all cultures and all communities--- but somehow the collection and presentation here was unconvincing, and actually insulting. "Barbershop" is the worst kind of artistic laziness, because it parades itself as bold, truthful, somehow real-life and nitty-gritty, where in fact it is a sloppy rehash of old TV characters and already passe college-circuit tripe. Overall, the movie is lame and boring.
Upon arriving home from "Barbershop," I flipped on the TV for something entertaining, and I saw 20 minutes of Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America." Murphy's movie has its faults too, but is very entertaining, if light, fare. Watching one of the barbershop scenes in "Coming to America," I saw a quick, brilliant, and effective execution of the entire concept that "Barbershop" the movie struggled with, yet failed to deliver.
So, if you want a truly funny version of "a day in life" of an inner-city barbershop populated with diverse and endearing characters, go out and rent something else. I gave "Barbershop" a 1 out of 10.
[Please note, "Amelie" was a GOOD movie--- but not a great one, in my opinion. The fawning and toadying over it by the artsy wannabes was the only unpleasant thing about it. "Barbershop" is not even good, however, so the fawning of the wannabes is not just unpleasant, it is actually embarrassing (recall the old fairy tale wherein the emperor walks around naked while the toadying subjects trick themselves into admiring his "new clothes"). Well, same here: "Barbershop," in my opinion, is one totally naked dude!
The characterizations in "Barbershop" were thin and tiresome media cliches. Everyone was depicted as mean, selfish, dishonest, stupid, and argumentative. Sure, such people DO exist in all cultures and all communities--- but somehow the collection and presentation here was unconvincing, and actually insulting. "Barbershop" is the worst kind of artistic laziness, because it parades itself as bold, truthful, somehow real-life and nitty-gritty, where in fact it is a sloppy rehash of old TV characters and already passe college-circuit tripe. Overall, the movie is lame and boring.
Upon arriving home from "Barbershop," I flipped on the TV for something entertaining, and I saw 20 minutes of Eddie Murphy in "Coming to America." Murphy's movie has its faults too, but is very entertaining, if light, fare. Watching one of the barbershop scenes in "Coming to America," I saw a quick, brilliant, and effective execution of the entire concept that "Barbershop" the movie struggled with, yet failed to deliver.
So, if you want a truly funny version of "a day in life" of an inner-city barbershop populated with diverse and endearing characters, go out and rent something else. I gave "Barbershop" a 1 out of 10.