Soul Men

Wow. Who knew that before the release of this film we would lose both Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac in August of the same year, one day apart! Bernie on August 9, 2008 and Isaac on August 10, 2008.

"Soul Men" didn't feature Isaac Hayes but a little, it was truly about Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Bernie Mac), two old school legends who lit up the charts back in the 60's and 70's with a group called The Real Deal. Sometime in the early 70's they broke up and went separate ways. The lead singer of the group, Marcus Hooks (John Legend), went on to be a solo star, Floyd went on to open a successful car wash business, and Louis went on to be hooked on drugs and alcohol and rob a bank.

When Marcus (Legend) died and VH1 wanted to do a tribute to him, they called upon the surviving two members of The Real Deal. Floyd (Mac) was ready and willing whereas Louis (SLJ) wanted no part of it. Through coaxing, cajoling, and pretty much bribery, Floyd got Louis to agree to go to New York's Apollo Theater for the tribute.

If it wasn't already a funny movie, it certainly got funnier when Mac and Jackson got together MF'ing their way through a road trip. No one can MF like SLJ, but Mac certainly gave him a run for his money. This movie was genuinely entertaining and funny, I'm just saddened that I won't be able to see Mac and Jackson together again.

It's not just a comedy, it's a tribute to our favorite soul men, Issac Hayes and Bernie Mac. Bernie Mac for his in your face style of comedy. And Hayes for his soulful singing voice, and his best remembered as the Duke in Escape From New York(1981), and has the voice of the chief on South Park. It a real sadness that there not with us anymore. But we'll always remember you Issac Hayes 1942-2008, and Bernie Mac 1957-2008.

The story begins when two former singers Named Floyd Henderson(Bernie Mac), and Louis Hinds(Samuel L. Jackson) in the seventies where in a group called The Real Deal. Now thirty years later, after learning about one of there partners named Marcus Hooks(John Legend), died of a heart attack. Despite a little old grudges with each other, Floyd and Louis decide to re-team anyway. But during a trip that might encounter misadventure. will they make it without killing each other first.

This was funny as ever, Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac are like the perfect comedy team, they had great comic chemistry, it's a real sadness they won't team up again. It had funny slapstick, and great music also. Please don't miss it. Sure it drops a lot of F bombs, and it has some raunchy humor, but it never gets boring or stupid for a second.

A former back-up singer turns car salesman Floyd Henderson (The late Bernie Mac) recently retired somewhere in California. He finds out that the lead singer of their previous soul band Marcus Hooks (John Legend) recently died of a heart attack. Their former manger Mr. Epstein is taking over by his son Danny (Sean Hayes), who wants Floyd to sing for Hooks' tribute concert at the Apollo Theater in New York City. But Danny wants the former second back-up singer turned former criminal Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson) to sing at the concert as well. At first, Louis refuses until Floyd convinces him to do the tribute for money. But Louis and Floyd haven't sing for nearly thirty years! There's some personal problems between these two former friends to solved before reaching the tribute concert of the late former colleague.

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, Roll Bounce, Welcome Back Roscoe Jenkins) made an enjoyable loose comedy about music, friendship and redemption. Jackson and Mac are extremely well cast in their roles. They actually sing pretty well with some dance moves. Also this was one of the better roles that Mac got to play before he passed on unexpectedly. In some ways "Soul Men" is "Grumpy Old Men" with soul music and a little "Midnight Run" throw in for good measure. No one could curse vulgarity as funny as Jackson and Mac would say.

The DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an good Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The DVD has a lively audio commentary track by the director and screenwriters Matthew Stone & Robert Ramsey. The DVD also has plenty of short featurettes of behind the scenes footage, interviews with the cast & filmmakers and tributes to the late Bernie Mac and Oscar-Winner Issac Hayes (Also his last film in a brief supporting role). The only two things are missing from the DVD is Deleted Scenes and Outtakes, which the filmmakers mention in the commentary track that a couple of sequences were cut. "Soul Men" was a box office disappointment and the film critics has mixed opinions but it will certainly found an audiences an Blu-ray/DVD and on television... sooner or later. Die-Hard fans of Jackson and especially Mac will have a blast with this movie. Jennifer Coolidge in a small memorable supporting part (Best known as Stifler's Mom in the "American Pie" series) has an genuinely funny sequences with Mac. This has a pretty good soundtrack as well. Certainly worth a look. Super 35. (*** 1/2 out of *****).

Last movie from Bernie Mac, a great comedian that will be missed by everybody. His stand-up comedies were great, his show The Bernie Mac Show went on for a long time but was very funny and never got boring. Different comedies like Bad Santa will forever remain in my favourites. For this last movie Bernie Mac forms a duo with Samuel L. Jackson and that worked out very well. There's a good chemistry between them, it' was enjoyable to watch. Soul Men might not be the funniest of his movies but it was good to watch him one more time. Even if there was a bit too much singing in my opinion, it's still good enough. Rest in peace Bernie, you brought a lot of smiles to people faces.

It was a straightforward almost Blue Brothers film, but who cares? It has music, honesty, and is truly a reminder of the sad loss of Bernie Mac.

Many of the so called clichés are actually representative of so much that truly happens in life. This may not be the most important film in the world, but it's heart is in the right place. And it sings a certain song of life, friendship and forgiveness.

That's all that it needs to provide. I am surprised that it received so much negativity on some pages. Just sit back and enjoy. If only the music business had so much respect for past legends. Sometimes it happens, and this also goes to show that some musicians really live from retaining their audience, as it is all they have that sustains them.