Product Details

• Actors: Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve, Queen Latifah, Sean Patrick Thomas
• Directors: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
• Writers: Mark Brown, Don D. Scott
• Producers: Ice Cube, Alex Gartner, George Tillman Jr., Jay Roberts, Mark Brown
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: November 2, 2004
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00020X97O
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,212 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ice Cube triumphantly returns as Calvin Palmer, proud proprietor of a neighborhood barbershop in Barbershop 2. The first Barbershop was a surprise smash; even more surprising is how good this sequel is. The plot isn't much--there's a corporate haircutting chain opening across the street, leading to the usual sentiments about the importance of small businesses and neighborhoods--but the well-conceived characters and the loose, genuine banter give this movie a striking richness of feeling. Barbershop 2 cuts back and forth in time, flashing back to when Eddie (garrulous Cedric the Entertainer), the shop's oldest and most outspoken barber, first came to work for Calvin's father. Glimpses of black history give weight to the modern-day struggles; most impressively, this device doesn't feel forced or cynical. Also returning are Eve, Troy Garity, and Sean Patrick Thomas; Queen Latifah (Bringing Down the House) is a new face on the block. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much, much better than the first ..., February 8, 2004

By A Customer

I saw Barbershop when it came out in 2002 and while it was interesting, I cautioned to call it a great movie b/c of spotty acting, over-the-top comedy (well, not all the humor was as funny as it should've been) a few holes in the plot and sketchy character development that made each of the actors come across as little more than caricatures.

Fastforward, to February 2004. Barbershop 2: Back in Business becomes the tight movie the original one should've been. This movie is off tha chain for several reasons.

1)If you saw Barbershop, you'll appreciate how the sequel does a great job following up on each of the character's story lines ... Terry's (Eve) relationship issues, Dinka's love for Terry, Ricky's decision to rise above his past troubles & make something positive of his life, but most importantly, Ice Cube's character learns an even deeper, historical-based lesson on the shop's significance to the neighborhood AND Cedric the Entertainer's old head character reveals a little more about why he loves that shop and how he REALLY became such great friends with Ice Cube's dad.

2)This movie has a much more personal touch ... the way Soul Food did. Maybe b/c as viewers we know what to expect from each character it's easier to see their humanity on top of human imperfections. You know who's the craziest, who's the illest, who's the livest, who's the rowdiest and who's gonna say things just to get a rise outta folk. But this cast becomes a family in the same way that '80s show "Cheers" became one. The barbershop transforms in this movie from hot-spot-to-get-the-word-on-the-street to community hotbed where all are welcome and all come correct.

3)This Barbershop sequel offers a little more insight into why & how the barbershop plays a powerful role in the African American community--offering commonground for different types of people with different types of ages, backgrounds, opinions, perspectives a place to share camaraderie, etc.

4)If you get the chance, pay very close attention to the movie's intro ... an awesome use of hair, er, Black hairstyles through the years as both motiff and metaphor for change (very powerful). Without me giving away the movie's very political, socially conscious message, I'll just say this hairstyles motiff foreshadows a development much, much later in the movie that has to do with the real life issue ... changing with the times, but retaining enough of your identity to stay the same. This theme hits home a various levels (I know black folks should feel me on this). Very thought-provoking, but open enough to let each viewer take his own message from it.

5)Barbershop 2 was just plain funny! This is coming from among the shruddest movie critics who won't just laugh b/c everyone else is laughing or be amused by the same old lowbrow, slapstick humor that plagues black comedies today. No, this film's comedy was actually great!

6)Great , great ending! That's all I'll say. I'm guessing though there will be a sequel to this movie too.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Southside repeats itself, March 11, 2005

By 

Pistol Pete "Pete" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Barbershop 2: Back in Business (Special Edition) (DVD)

I have lived on the Chicago southside, so it is fun to see the streets and the people portrayed. But why did they have to rerun the plot of the first one? It's basically the same choice: Do I sell out and take the money or do I stick with the neighborhood. Guess which decision he makes.

It does has some funny moments, but they are mixed in with several plot lines that don't really relate to the movie - a love-hate romance with two of the younger barbers, Cedric the Entertainer reminiscing about his past (We never did find out why his girl left) and the white guy barber's pompous attitude.

Overall, I finished watching that movie and thought. Hm. I really could have found something better to do for 2 hours.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Barbershop 2: Back In Business- A Cut Above, February 29, 2004

By 

Daniel K. (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

Barbershop 2: Back in Business is a great sequel, one which delivers fresh, subversive laughs. Sure the plot is just about the same as the first, but the movie still entertains and the cast is even better since we have a few new characters, such
as Queen Latifah who plays Gina, the owner of another barbershop
near Calvin's.
Ice Cube returns as Calvin Palmer, the owner of a very popular barbershop on the Chicago Southside. The entire cast does return, and offers something a little new to the film, surely Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) for in this film he rambles about the Kobe Bryant trial, R. Kelly and Michael Jackson as well as a few others. Eve returns as Teri, Sean Patrick Thomas, Michael Ealy, Troy Garity and more. I should also point out that this installment is directed by a different director, Kevin Rodney Sullivan who made his debut with this film and he keeps the franchise going more than well.
Barbershop 2: Back In Business is rated PG-13 for Language, Sexual Material and Brief Drug References. The language is a bit bawdy and rough, there's also sexual innuendo nothing explicit though. The film has already been a hit and surely deserves to be one, I'm not too sure if it's better than the first but it sure is as good. Head down to the theatre and check out Barbershop 2.