Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Encyclopedia
Barbershop 2: Black in Business is a 2004 American comedy film
directed
by Kevin Rodney Sullivan
, produced by State Street Pictures and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
on February 6, 2004. A sequel to the 2002 movie
Barbershop
, also from State Street producing team Robert Teitel
and George Tillman, Jr.
, Barbershop 2 deals with the impact of gentrification
on the reputation and livelihood of a long-standing south Chicago
barber
shop.
Ice Cube
, Cedric the Entertainer
, Sean Patrick Thomas
, Eve
, and several other actors reprise their roles from the first Barbershop film. However, a few of the original film's actors such as Tom Wright
and Jazsmin Lewis
return with smaller roles.
Barbershop 2 also features what is billed as a "special appearance" by Queen Latifah
, who starred in a spin-off, Beauty Shop
which was released by MGM in early 2005.
) has finally settled comfortably into his role as the owner of the inner city barbershop founded by his grandfather and father. The shop's latest threat comes from overzealous developer Quentin Leroux (Harry Lennix) who opens a rival barbershop chain
across the street, called "Nappy Cutz".
While Calvin attempts to figure out how to deal with the coming threat of direct competition from Quentin's flashy establishment, his barbers have issues of their own. Isaac (Troy Garity
), the lone white barber, is now the star of the shop, and begins to feel that he deserves star treatment, feeling neglected by Calvin and the other barbers. Terri (Eve
) is finding success in managing her anger, but has trouble dealing with the growing mutual attraction between her and Ricky (Michael Ealy
). Dinka (Leonard Earl Howze) is still interested in Terri, but is distraught when he finds out that she loves Ricky instead. Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas
) has quit the shop to work for the local alderman
Lalowe Brown (Robert Wisdom
); his replacement, Calvin's cousin Kenard (Kenan Thompson
), is fresh out of barber school and horribly inept at cutting hair. Meanwhile, the barbershop and other businesses like it are under threat from gentrification
and Calvin is offered a substantial bribe from Brown and Leroux in exchange for his support of the city council's pro-gentrification legislation.
A subplot involves Eddie recalling his time as a young man in the late 1960s, when he first started working at the shop with Calvin's father, including the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Also, Eddie remembers his long-lost love (Garcelle Beauvais
). This subplot causes Eddie and Calvin to begin bonding. The film also introduces, Calvin's ex-girlfriend Gina (Queen Latifah
), who works at the beauty shop next door. The girls at the beauty shop have similar conversations and experiences like the barbers and Gina has a bitter rivalry with Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer
).
After attempting to change his own barbershop's style and decor to match those of his rival, Calvin decides to refuse the bribe money and speak out against the neighborhood's gentrification at the local city council meeting. Though Calvin gives a passionate speech about the legislation helping the region to earn money at the cost of its soul and the community, the council still unanimously votes to approve the legislation and move forward with the project. Terri and Ricky accept their love for one another. Dinka loses Terri, but finds love in a stylist at Gina's beauty shop. Though the pro-gentrification project is approved, the community remains loyal to Calvin's barbershop.
. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200
and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Kevin Rodney Sullivan is an American film and television actor and film director. He is married to wife Nita Sullivan, and has a daughter, Nicole L. Sullivan.-Early Life and Acting Career:...
, produced by State Street Pictures and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
on February 6, 2004. A sequel to the 2002 movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Barbershop
Barbershop (film)
Barbershop is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Tim Story, produced by State Street Pictures and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on September 13, 2002. Starring Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, and Anthony Anderson, the movie revolves around social life in a barbershop on the South Side of...
, also from State Street producing team Robert Teitel
Robert Teitel
Robert Teitel is an American film producer.Teitel is most notable for producing the films Soul Food , Men of Honor , and the three films in the Barbershop series: Barbersop, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, and Beauty Shop. He is also co-producer of the television series Barbershop: The Series.He...
and George Tillman, Jr.
George Tillman, Jr.
George Tillman, Jr. is an American film director and producer. He attended John Marshall High School in Milwaukee, where he took Mass Communications magnet classes. He graduated from Columbia College in Chicago in 1991 with a major in Film and Video.Tillman is most notable for directing the films...
, Barbershop 2 deals with the impact of gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
on the reputation and livelihood of a long-standing south Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
shop.
Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
, Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
, Sean Patrick Thomas
Sean Patrick Thomas
Sean Patrick Thomas is a Guyanese-American actor. He is perhaps best known for his co-starring role in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance, as well as his television role as Detective Temple Page in The District and also "Barber Shop".- Early life :Thomas is the son of immigrants from Guyana and was...
, Eve
Eve (rapper)
Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
, and several other actors reprise their roles from the first Barbershop film. However, a few of the original film's actors such as Tom Wright
Tom Wright (actor)
Tom Wright is a television and theatre actor. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey and attended West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania....
and Jazsmin Lewis
Jazsmin Lewis
Jazsmin Lewis is an African American actress. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Traci Townsend in the 2005 film Traci Townsend.-Biography:...
return with smaller roles.
Barbershop 2 also features what is billed as a "special appearance" by Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, who starred in a spin-off, Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop
Beauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business...
which was released by MGM in early 2005.
Plot
Since the events of the previous film, Calvin Palmer, Jr. (Ice CubeIce Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
) has finally settled comfortably into his role as the owner of the inner city barbershop founded by his grandfather and father. The shop's latest threat comes from overzealous developer Quentin Leroux (Harry Lennix) who opens a rival barbershop chain
Chain store
Chain stores are retail outlets that share a brand and central management, and usually have standardized business methods and practices. These characteristics also apply to chain restaurants and some service-oriented chain businesses. In retail, dining and many service categories, chain businesses...
across the street, called "Nappy Cutz".
While Calvin attempts to figure out how to deal with the coming threat of direct competition from Quentin's flashy establishment, his barbers have issues of their own. Isaac (Troy Garity
Troy Garity
Troy Garity is an American film actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for his role as Barry Winchell in the 2003 television movie Soldier's Girl, but may be best known for his role as Isaac Rosenberg in the Barbershop films.-Early life and...
), the lone white barber, is now the star of the shop, and begins to feel that he deserves star treatment, feeling neglected by Calvin and the other barbers. Terri (Eve
Eve (rapper)
Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
) is finding success in managing her anger, but has trouble dealing with the growing mutual attraction between her and Ricky (Michael Ealy
Michael Ealy
Michael Brown , professionally known as Michael Ealy, is an American actor.-Personal life:Ealy was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Springbrook High School and the University of Maryland, College Park.-Career:...
). Dinka (Leonard Earl Howze) is still interested in Terri, but is distraught when he finds out that she loves Ricky instead. Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas
Sean Patrick Thomas
Sean Patrick Thomas is a Guyanese-American actor. He is perhaps best known for his co-starring role in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance, as well as his television role as Detective Temple Page in The District and also "Barber Shop".- Early life :Thomas is the son of immigrants from Guyana and was...
) has quit the shop to work for the local alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
Lalowe Brown (Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom is an American actor. He is a graduate of Columbia University.-Biography:Wisdom was born in Washington, D.C. to Jamaican parents. He appeared in four of the five seasons of HBO program The Wire as Howard "Bunny" Colvin...
); his replacement, Calvin's cousin Kenard (Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work as a cast member of NBC's long-running sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live...
), is fresh out of barber school and horribly inept at cutting hair. Meanwhile, the barbershop and other businesses like it are under threat from gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
and Calvin is offered a substantial bribe from Brown and Leroux in exchange for his support of the city council's pro-gentrification legislation.
A subplot involves Eddie recalling his time as a young man in the late 1960s, when he first started working at the shop with Calvin's father, including the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Also, Eddie remembers his long-lost love (Garcelle Beauvais
Garcelle Beauvais
Garcelle Beauvais is a Haitian-American actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her roles as hotel employee Francesca "Fancy" Monroe on The WB television sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show which ran from 1996 to 2001, and as Valerie Heywood on the ABC crime drama, NYPD Blue.-Early...
). This subplot causes Eddie and Calvin to begin bonding. The film also introduces, Calvin's ex-girlfriend Gina (Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
), who works at the beauty shop next door. The girls at the beauty shop have similar conversations and experiences like the barbers and Gina has a bitter rivalry with Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
).
After attempting to change his own barbershop's style and decor to match those of his rival, Calvin decides to refuse the bribe money and speak out against the neighborhood's gentrification at the local city council meeting. Though Calvin gives a passionate speech about the legislation helping the region to earn money at the cost of its soul and the community, the council still unanimously votes to approve the legislation and move forward with the project. Terri and Ricky accept their love for one another. Dinka loses Terri, but finds love in a stylist at Gina's beauty shop. Though the pro-gentrification project is approved, the community remains loyal to Calvin's barbershop.
Main
- Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
as Calvin Palmer, Jr., The film's main protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. He has learned to appreciate the barbershop and is still taking good care of the barbershop after the events from the first movieBarbershop (film)Barbershop is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Tim Story, produced by State Street Pictures and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on September 13, 2002. Starring Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, and Anthony Anderson, the movie revolves around social life in a barbershop on the South Side of...
. When a rival barbershop opens across the street, he tries to keep the shop up to date to match up with the new shop. Also, he is now the father to a baby boy named Coley. - Cedric the EntertainerCedric the EntertainerCedric Antonio Kyles , known professionally by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American actor, comedian and director...
as Eddie, The film's deuteragonistDeuteragonistIn literature, the deuteragonist is the second most important character, after the protagonist and before the tritagonist. The deuteragonist may switch from being with or against the protagonist depending on the deuteragonist's own conflict/plot.-History:Greek drama began with simply one actor,...
. Compared to the previous film, Eddie has a larger role in the film and is now a major part of the story. This time around, Eddie spends most the film thinking back to the past. Events involving the Martin Luther King assassination and riots, how he first started working at the barbershop, and thinking about a past lover. Over time, he and Calvin begin bonding. Eddie and Gina also have a bitter rivalry. - Sean Patrick ThomasSean Patrick ThomasSean Patrick Thomas is a Guyanese-American actor. He is perhaps best known for his co-starring role in the 2001 film Save the Last Dance, as well as his television role as Detective Temple Page in The District and also "Barber Shop".- Early life :Thomas is the son of immigrants from Guyana and was...
as Jimmy James, a former barber at the shop and aspiring politic. He now works for Lelo Brown who is working with Quentin Leroux, the owner of the rival barbershop. Jimmy is struggling on two major decisions: doing his job with Lelo or remaining loyal to Calvin and his barbershop. - Harry J. LennixHarry J. LennixHarry Joseph Lennix III is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Terrence "Dresser" Williams in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats and as "Boyd Langton" in the Joss Whedon television show Dollhouse....
as Quentin Leroux, The film's main antagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
. A wealthy businessman and owner of the rival barbershop Nappy Cuts. He is working with the Alderman on getting the neighborhood changed around which causes the community to rally together. Quentin tries to lure in Calvin but Calvin constantly refuses. - EveEve (rapper)Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
as Terri Jones, Terri is learning how to deal with her anger and stress. She still doesn't like Dinka. She doesn't like the type of women Ricky dates mainly because she thinks they are bad for him and also because she is finding herself falling in love with him. - Troy GarityTroy GarityTroy Garity is an American film actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for his role as Barry Winchell in the 2003 television movie Soldier's Girl, but may be best known for his role as Isaac Rosenberg in the Barbershop films.-Early life and...
as Isaac Rosenberg, Everyone has learned to accept Isaac and he is now the star barber at the shop. All the customers admire him but he feels he is neglected by Calvin and none of the other barbers appreciate him. - Michael EalyMichael EalyMichael Brown , professionally known as Michael Ealy, is an American actor.-Personal life:Ealy was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Springbrook High School and the University of Maryland, College Park.-Career:...
as Ricky Nash, Ricky is now on the right path in life and is secretly studying for the GEDs. He is having women issues, and this prompts him to start falling in love with Terri. - Leonard Earl Howze as Dinka, Dinka can't seem to get Terri to like him. He is still friends with Ricky but he is hurt when he discovers Terri loves Ricky instead of him. The ladies at the beauty shop next door adore him because they like how he is a gentleman. There is a beauty stylist at there who has a big crush on him.
Supporting
- Kenan ThompsonKenan ThompsonKenan Thompson is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his work as a cast member of NBC's long-running sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live...
as Kenard, Calvin's irritating cousin. Kenard is fresh out of barber college and is horrible at cutting hair which is the reason why he has no customers. All the barbers (including Calvin) dislike him. - DeRay DavisDeRay DavisDeRay Davis is an American stand-up comedian and actor. DeRay began his career in the comedy clubs. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, He won the Comedy Central Laugh Riots Competition and was a standout on the Cedric the Entertainer Tour...
as Rayford, Rayford still comes around the barbershop hustling. Calvin enlists Rayford's help in redesigning and upgrading the barbershop. Rayford gets most the items by stealing them. - Queen LatifahQueen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
as Gina, Gina is a stylist at the beauty shop next door. She is Calvin's ex-girlfriend but despite this, they remain good friends. She has a bitter rivalry with Eddie. Also, Gina became the star of her own spin-offSpin-off (media)In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
film Beauty ShopBeauty ShopBeauty Shop is a 2005 American comedy film, directed by Bille Woodruff. The film is a spin-off of the Barbershop film franchise, and stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character which was first introduced in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business...
where Gina moves to Atlanta where her daughter attends a private music school. - Robert WisdomRobert WisdomRobert Wisdom is an American actor. He is a graduate of Columbia University.-Biography:Wisdom was born in Washington, D.C. to Jamaican parents. He appeared in four of the five seasons of HBO program The Wire as Howard "Bunny" Colvin...
as Lalowe Brown, The film's second antagonist. He is working with Quentin and Jimmy on Nappy Cuts and changing the neighborhood. When he does a publicity stunt at Calvin's barbershop and asks Kenard for a haircut (due to Eddie sending him to Kenard), Kenard ruins his hair by mistake and puts a big noticeable patch in his head and in anger he attacks Kenard. He wears a hat from that point on.
Minor
- Jazsmin LewisJazsmin LewisJazsmin Lewis is an African American actress. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Traci Townsend in the 2005 film Traci Townsend.-Biography:...
as Jennifer Palmer, Calvin's beautiful and supportive wife. She is now the mother to a baby boy named Coley. She was pregnant with him in the previous film. She tries to make sure that Calvin doesn't worry himself too much about Nappy Cuts. She has a smaller role in ths film compared to her larger role in the previous film. - Tom WrightTom Wright (actor)Tom Wright is a television and theatre actor. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey and attended West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania....
as Detective Williams, a detective who is friends with Calvin. He catches Calvin and the barbershop crew breaking into Nappy Cuts. He joins the other cops in having fun in the new barbershop. Detective Williams has a very small role in the film compared to his larger role in the previous movie. - Carl WrightCarl WrightCarl Wright was an American tap dancer, actor, and comedian whose late life acting credits included Soul Food, Barbershop, and Big Momma's House...
as Checker Fred, an elderly man who is a friend of Eddie and the late Calvin Sr., who still comes to the barbershop every day and plays checkers. - Garcelle Beauvais-NilonGarcelle BeauvaisGarcelle Beauvais is a Haitian-American actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her roles as hotel employee Francesca "Fancy" Monroe on The WB television sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show which ran from 1996 to 2001, and as Valerie Heywood on the ABC crime drama, NYPD Blue.-Early...
as Loretta, Eddie's ex-girlfriend and long lost love. She appears mostly in flashbacks as a young woman and two brief appearances as an elder. - Keke PalmerKeke PalmerLauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer is an American actress and singer who rose to fame for her performance in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee. She also starred as the title character in the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP...
as a rude little girl who attends the shop's barbecue and is very disrespectful to Eddie. Instead of acting like an adult, Eddie stoops down to her level and this prompts her to run and tell her aunt (which is revealed to be Gina) and causes a roasting matchThe dozensThe Dozens is a game that has its origins in African American slavery. The game originates from the devaluing and bargaining off of deformed or defective slaves in auction houses. This element of the African American oral tradition in which two competitors, usually males, go head-to-head in a...
between the two.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on February 3, 2004 by Interscope RecordsInterscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
.