Barbershop

Can sweet and bitter (poison) water come from the same fountain without causing harm? According to the Bible, it cannot. (See James 3: 8-12). Yet that is exactly what the producers of the movie "Barbershop" try to accomplish. While the picture has something to say about several positive social issues, it uses mounds of filth to say it. In the end we are left with the typical (R) rated Hollywood trash.

The local barbershop has always been the place to go for community. People don’t go there just for a haircut; they go there to meet friends and solve the problems of the world (at least in dialogue).

Calvin (Ice Cube) is the owner of the family barbershop. It has been in the family for three generations. But Calvin wants more out of life. His dream is to become a record producer and live the "high life". Unfortunately, he is barely making ends meet. In fact, business is so slow that Calvin is facing foreclosure. And to top it all off, his wife is pregnant.

So Calvin makes a rather rush decision to sell the shop to a local loan shark for $20,000. He immediately regrets that choice. The movie uses that situation to attempt to teach important lessons on friendship, heritage, responsibility and self-respect. Calvin is committed to his wife (Jennifer), and his wife is very supportive of him. She has her own mind and is not afraid to express it, but when the chips are down, she stands with her husband.

After Calvin sells his shop, he discovered that the buyer intends to turn it into a strip club. This really bother Calvin’s conscience, therefore he tries to buy it back. But the price goes up to $40,000, and Calvin has only until 7:00 PM to get the money (which he does).

While a positive intent might exist, it is grossly overshadowed by coarse language and negative material. Just because good morals themes are present, we still cannot excuse 98 minutes three and four letter expletives, use of f-words, s-words and close to 50 of the a-word. In addition, God’s name is abused at least 4 times, and women are referred to as B’s and "ho’s". The profanities and obscenities are continuous including racial putdowns and grabbing women’s posterior.

So what is the message of the movie? Is it that crime doesn’t pay? Is it that we can hold high morals while practicing low morals?

I believe that families mean everything, and I believe in hard work. I believe in respect, truth and justice. But I also believe that these themes should be presented in a way that families can enjoy it together. Unfortunately, the brightness of the "Barbershop" is dimmed by tons offensive mockery. Mt may be time for this shop to go out of business.