Barbershop 2: Back in Business 2004

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: Funny and entertaining. Read more

Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times: It's still funny and warm and neighborly inside Calvin's barbershop; it's just a little predictable as soon as you step outside. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: This time around, the razors are a little duller, the clicks not as slick, the patter not as snappy. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: [A]s funny as the original. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A sequel with all the humor, compassion, raunch and camaraderie of its predecessor. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: This sequel is overstaffed with a cast that's underserved by Don D. Scott's schematic script and Kevin Rodney Sullivan's crude direction. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: The filmmakers clearly put considerable thought and imagination into making as a good a sequel as they could. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: As funny as the first movie, but it's narratively scattered. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: A generous and infectious blending of the old school with the fresh. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The actors anchor the film with their live-on-the-spot rhythms. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: [Eddie's] irrepressible spirit remains the key to the movie. Read more

Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News: Ice Cube sticks with the formula that made Barbershop so successful, yet manages to keep the material feeling fresh. Read more

John Patterson, L.A. Weekly: Hysterically funny, historically aware, politically nuanced, culturally sophisticated and productively self-critical all at the same time -- and you'll need a second viewing just to catch all the jokes. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Picks up where the first film ended by celebrating community, exploring responsibility to one's neighborhood and, most important, providing big, big laughs. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Grooves to its own drummer, yet remains dynamically true to its roots. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: It isn't a bad hair day, just a limp, uninspired one. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: There's no question Eddie was the chief asset of the first film, and sequels are required by law to exploit the original's strengths. But the filmmakers have misread Eddie's appeal. Read more

Elvis Mitchell, New York Times: A movie featuring Ice Cube bellowing 'No more profanity!' and meaning it should produce a lot more laughs than this intermittently amusing sequel. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: As in the original film, it's the chemistry among the actors that really counts. And fortunately, the filmmakers have reassembled the terrific cast. Read more

Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News: A warm and tasty second helping complete with smart visual flourishes, strong laughs and a willingness to take a few bittersweet cuts with its scissors. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The first film arrived with freshness and an unexpected zing, but this one seems too content to follow in its footsteps. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: Like going out for a bad meal with a group of people you love being with. You're happy to be in their company; you just wish you didn't leave feeling hungry. Read more

Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle: Warmhearted and surprisingly ambitious. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Doesn't overreach the original's modest ambitions, doesn't mess with the endearing, well-rounded characters and never forgets that the jokes are all in service of a sincere message about what it means to be a community. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: The connection between the still-potent issues of the civil rights movement and the rich vs. poor economic disparities that continue today -- although 'The Man' could now be either black or white -- gives Barbershop genuine potency. Read more

Anna Smith, Time Out: Inane banter soon takes over and is not helped by an unlikely, flashback-heavy subplot about Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) and a lost love. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Just as sharply funny and as heartwarming, yet unsentimental, as the first. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Provides enough solid, character-based amusement to put customers in the chairs and send them out content with services rendered. Read more

Derek Elley, Variety: Read more

Laura Sinagra, Village Voice: Cube is still adorable, but the potentially poppin' battle between the shop and big-box competitor Nappy Cuts gets obscured by sloppy chronology and flat, cartoonish politicos. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: Heartstrings will be tugged and ribs tickled, particularly thanks to Cedric the Entertainer. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: It's a warm, often funny reunion of the sassiest, chattiest characters ever to buzz a brother's head. Read more