Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer are reunited in “Barbershop: The Next Cut,” more than 10 years after the hit sequel, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, which saw Calvin (Ice Cube) trying to save his shop from a competitive and overzealous developer. The fourth film in the overall franchise series, (including the 2005 spin-off Beauty Shop), finds Calvin and his longtime crew working alongside the sassy stylists of the Beauty Shop, led by rapper Eve, Regina Hall (Think Like a Man), and rapper Nicki Minaj.
According to the plot summary, 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 crew to come together to not only save the shop, but their neighborhood.
“This neighborhood was always rough, but it’s something different going on,” says Cube’s Calvin Palmer, before talking about the difficulties of raising children amid the danger.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man films, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins), Barbershop: The Next Cut, also features Oscar winner Common (Selma), Sean Patrick Thomas, Anthony Anderson, Jaszmine Lewis and JB Smoove.
“Whatever suggestions Cedric and Cube had — whether it was for me or any newcomer to the movie — they were always about making the movie better,” the director told EW about the creative process. “I really appreciated, and I think Nicki did too. She’s a star in her own right. Here she is part of an ensemble, but she fell right in line with how we were going to make this movie and make it as good as we can.”
Barbershop: The Next Cut opens on April 15, 2016. Peep the trailer below.
