Barbershop 2: Back in Business
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Barbershop 2: Back in Business is a 2004 comedy film sequel to 2002 movie Barbershop, from the writing/producing team Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr. It is directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan and written by Mark Brown (characters) and Don D. Scott.
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[edit] Plot summary
The further adventures of Calvin and his barbershop.
The shop's latest threat comes from overzealous developer Quentin Leroux (played by Harry J. Lennix) who opens a rival barbershop next door, Nappy Cutz. The movie introduces Gina (played by Queen Latifah) as the owner of the beauty shop next door, setting the stage for the third installment of the trilogy, Beauty Shop.
After attempting to change his own barbershop's style and decor to match those of his rival's, Calvin speaks out against the neighborhood's gentrification at the local city council meeting in an attempt to stop the changes in their neighborhood. Unfortunately the council doesn't change their mind and continues the project. But in the end, old customers still come to Calvin's barbershop and remain loyal to the old school style.
[edit] Symbolism
Nappy Cutz is the first step of gentrification of the neighborhood, much the way Starbucks crushes the local coffee shop (Qenton at one point offers to buy Calvin a laté at TwentyFourSeven--another new business on the block).
In contrast to Calvin's barbershop, Nappy Cutz has a great façade (huge aquarium, indoor basketball court, top-of-the-line tools, a website, and shiny 'pleather' uniforms) but no soul (no Nappy Cutz barbers are ever seen).
When Calvin institutes new rules (greet all customers by name, no loud talking), as an attempt to be more "family-friendly," (i.e., more like Nappy Cutz) the barbershop becomes a quiet, cold, uninviting, and scary place. A customer leaves and everyone stops cutting to say goodbye in unison (a Stepford Wife-inspired moment?). Jimmy then comes in and starts berating Issac because he's still working on his previous customers. Issac is forced to choke back his personality and resist his instinct to berate Jimmy. Calvin realizes what is happening and cuts the barbers loose, at which point they start yelling at Jimmy to shut up and sit down. The message here is by denying one's own self, one becomes hollow, weak, and impotent.
In the scene where Calvin discovers Lalowe and Quenton having a 'private meeting' and accuses Laylo of accepting money from Quenton, Lalowe picks up the envelope full of money to reveal a brochure that reads, "Face to Face With Africa," representing how he's turned his back on the local community.
The glamour of Nappy Cutz tempts Issac, who is initially impressed by the better hair cutting implements. Several times during the movie, he is disrespected and/or humiliated by Calvin, and finally leaves after a heated argument. Later, Issac realizes that he's made a mistake and comes back. The message here is that while she may be a rough, harsh mistress, the old barbershop will always welcome its fallen back without a word.
Kenard, Calvin's worst, most inexperienced barber, falls for the glitz and joins Nappy Cutz. Ironically, he was the one who mis-cut Lalowe's hair, implying that while the look of Nappy Cutz is attractive, its barbers' skills are inferior: all style and no substance.
The circle comes back around as Lalowe abandons Quenton when the community chooses Calvin's over Nappy Cutz. The idea here is when one relies on those who have no substance, one will be left alone when the going gets tough.
[edit] Cast
- Ice Cube as Calvin Palmer, Jr.
- Cedric the Entertainer as Eddie
- Sean Patrick Thomas as Jimmy James
- Eve as Terri Jones
- Troy Garity as Isaac Rosenberg
- Michael Ealy as Ricky Nash
- Leonard Earl Howze as Dinka
- Kenan Thompson as Kenard
- Queen Latifah as Gina
- Harry J. Lennix as Quentin Leroux
- Robert Wisdom as Alderman Brown
[edit] Trivia
- Ice Cube, Eve, and Queen Latifah are all successful hip hop recording artists.
- Troy Garity is the son of actress Jane Fonda and activist/politician Tom Hayden. Garity is his paternal grandmother's maiden name, which he uses to distinguish himself from his extremely well-known parents.
- "Dinka" is not a typical Nigerian name. Thus, the character is renamed "Yinka" on Barbershop: The Series.
- On Barbershop: The Series, the character Ricky has been replaced by a more hardened ex-con, Romadal.
- On Barbershop: The Series, Isaac's last name is changed from "Rosenberg" to "Brice".
- The Ice Cube song "You Can Do It" is featured prominently in a memorable scene from the 2001 film Save the Last Dance, which stars Sean Patrick Thomas.
- Cedric the Entertainer co-starred on The Steve Harvey Show, where Kenan Thompson had a recurring role as a young man being mentored by Cedric's character.
