The movie “Barbershop,” starring multi-talented Ice Cube, is an outrageously funny film that touches on many social issues faced by minority-owned businesses in the hood today.
         Calvin’s (Ice Cube) barbershop serves as a south Chicago community’s gossip focal-point. The characters include: Dinka (Leonard Howze), the fat brother; Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas), whose emotional outbursts are absorbed by his co-workers; Ricky (Michael Daly), who is one strike away from the slammer; Isaac (Troy Garity), the white guy waiting for the opportunity to demonstrate his skills on a brave customer; Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), the old school guy; and Terri (Eve), the only female working in the shop, who demands respect from her co-workers and her cheating boyfriend.
         When Calvin learns that the barbershop is facing foreclosure, he sells it to a shady loan shark for $20,000 but he quickly discovers how important the shop is to his family, the community, and the people who work there. So he spends his time devising ways to repay the slimy loan shark, who now wants $40,000.
         The movie is primarily about what goes on inside the barbershop. The movie sparked controversy when the Eddie downplayed Rosa Park’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. Eddie quickly defends his stance by asking, “Where else can you talk straight?” if not in the barbershop. A stolen ATM with no money in it becomes an excuse to give Ricky his third strike and also a way for Calvin to pay his bills. This also happens to be the funniest part of the movie, and is a comical diversion from what is going on inside the shop. How often can you go to the movies and see something that is delightfully funny, and also which the entire family can see without explicit sex scenes and bad language? “Barbershop” gives you insight into the humorous and quirky lives of honest folks who work hard to take care of their families, and who don’t have to work for others to define their success. I rate this movie an A+. The DVD version of the movie “Barbershop” includes outtakes and bloopers, deleted scenes, and an Easter egg hidden on the special features menu screen. Just click on the barbershop icon symbol which features men in the movie talking about the garbage that goes on at the local barbershop. Also included are narratives from real barbers sharing the hilarious stories they hear in their shops.