Friday After Next

Having been a fan of the first Friday, my expectations for the second one weren't exactly high [no pun intended], given the fact that Chris Tucker wasn't in it. But it turned out to be an okay movie. I also noticed the direction it took the franchise to -- low brow humor. The first had a little bit of it, but the second one seemed like it just wanted to gross you out with its sick humor and poop jokes.

You won't find much difference in this Friday. Turning the series on its ear and giving it a fresh new spin with the Christmas theme seemed like an intriguing idea. Did it work? Hells yeah. With the uncontrollable Mike Epps once again playing the crazy sidekick to Cube's Craig, Chris Tucker seems like a distant memory. Out goes the semi-seriousness of the first one about the reality of the hood, and in comes the all out craziness that solidified the second. The only memorable characters in this one are Money Mike and Damon. If you're a fan of the series, by all means, rent it.

By the end of the movie, you'll ponder if this was the best way to close out the trilogy. Was it as funny as they could make it? Memorable? With a stronger script and more reigned-in performances, it could have been. Average at best. But let's hope Cube ends it here.

When I saw the coming attractions while going to see "Brown Sugar", I knew that I had to go and see this movie. Craig (Ice Cube) and his cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps) are back for another installment in the "Friday" series. This time the boys are in South Central and getting ready to celebrate Christmas...until a burgular dressed like Santa Claus (Rickey Smiley) robs the boys and getting away with their rent money and presents. Craig and Day-Day then apply for jobs as security guards when their evil landlady, Miss Pearly (Bebe Drake), demands the rent money in advance or she'll let loose her burly son Damon (Terry Crews), who has spent 12 years in prison and now likes men. As they adjust to their new job, Craig becomes interested in the sexy Donna (K.D. Aubert) who works at her pimped-out boyfriend's department store. Also featured in the movie are Craig parents (John Witherspoon and Anna Maria Horsford), Uncle Elroy (Don "D.C." Curry), Pinky (Clifton Powell) and even Chico the dog who wreaked havoc on Craig and Day-Day in "Next Friday".

This movie was so hilarious and topped the second installment but could never surpass the original "Friday" simply because of Chris Tucker who played Craig's best friend Smokey. I will definitely go and see this movie again and again until its available to own on DVD. Maybe if there's a fourth "Friday" Chris Tucker can join Ice Cube and the hilarious Mike Epps. I would love to see those three together.

Man, to anyone that thinks this is highbrow art, please, please, get a life. This was supposed to be a ghetto comedy, and as such it is awesome. The scene with Damon and the pimp in the Bathroom almost put me in the hospital. And the Church ladies at the storefront. This is funny stuff. I mean real funny stuff. If you can't find the comedy in this, you need to take the stick..... I'm sorry, as I was saying this is really funny stuff.

I was a little suspicious at first but when I finally saw it, I was glad it wasn't like Next Friday which was kinda dull. This one was funny at first then got really out of control at the end, Clifton Powell was the surprise comedic performance in this as Pinky - g he had me laughing pretty hard but it's John Witherspoon and Mike Epps who really made this funny... This was hella fun but not better than Friday, still good though

In udder hilarity, the gang of two is back! And with a comedic vengeance. I saw this in California when I lived there at Christmas time, 2002, and it was one of the funniest down in the hood yule-tide, Christmas stories I have seen in years.

From one of the worst roommates, Dey Dey,(Epps Jr.) to Pinky their ex-boss, to Pops and uncle, doing restaurant bar-BBQ together(and arguing and fighting, all the way)right on down to the landlord and one of the biggest 'problems' these two have had (Damon) since, well...since 'FRIDAY' 1995 when Chris Tucker was riding with Cube, and Deebo was troubling' em'!!

The two police officers I won't soon forget, A.Hole and B. Dix when it came time to bring the PO' PO' into it, these two were all in all. Christmas time is here and unfortunately so is the ghetto thugs, out rippin' and stealin' everything in sight, including Dey Dey and Craig's stuff even out the refrigerator. They're broker den broke, and you can't 'beat' that with Michael Jackson!

I went back and saw this a few more times before it left the theater because frankly, it was worth it. Ms. K.D. Aubert, was a lovely and wondrous addition to this Miss-L-toe mantra in the ghetto. This was accompanied by a ghetto-fabulous soundtrack! Mary J Blige was my favorite of all, 'Family Affair' was R&B soul-delicious!! And in all, as Mary would say, Jesus is the reason for the season all the way!

I really love it when Ice Cube puts his writer's cap on and brings out yet another gem of a good-times movie.

I recommend this to Ice Cube and Mike Epps fans, because they take it and bake the cake and steal the show.

Good team playing' y'all! Here's to another fun-filled two hours down the hood comedy road. I'll be waiting. Until then, (****) four out of four.