It isn't always the biggest, highest-grossing franchises that stick around forever, some of the modestly successful ones last a while, too. Twelve years have passed since the last time Ice Cube welcomed us to the Barbershop, and it's time to open those doors up again with Barbershop: The Next Cut, which introduces a whole new generation ready to cut a few jokes while cutting some hair.
Looking like a combination of Barbershop and its spinoff, Beauty Shop, the series' third film finds a group of lady hairstylists joining the all-boys' club. Cube is joined by Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson, Eve, JB Smoove, Lamorne Morris, Sean Patrick Thomas, Tyga, Deon Cole, Common, Troy Garity, and Nicki Minaj, but sadly no Queen Latifah. Here's the official synopsis, which seems to be taking a page from Spike Lee's Chi-Raq in tackling the issue of street violence:
It’s been more than 10 years since our last appointment at Calvin’s Barbershop. Calvin (Ice Cube) and his longtime crew, including Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), are still there, but the shop has undergone some major changes. Most noticeably, our once male-dominated sanctuary is now co-ed. The ladies bring their own flavor, drama and gossip to the shop challenging the fellas at every turn. Despite the good times and camaraderie within the shop, the surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, forcing Calvin and our crew to come together to not only save the shop, but their neighborhood.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Barbershop: The Next Cut opens April 15th.
