Directed By: Steve Carr
Written By: Ice Cube
Based On Characters Created By: Ice Cube & DJ Pooh
Cinematography By: Christopher Baffa
Editor: Elena Maganini
CAST: Ice Cube, Mike Epps, John Witherspoon, Sticky Fingaz, Don D.C. Curry, Tamala Jones, Lisa Rodriguez, Amy Hill, Clifton Powell, Kym Whitley, Jacob Vargas, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Michael Rappaport
This time the film follows Craig, as he is sent to live with his uncle in the suburbs. Who has just won the lottery after his nemesis from the first film breaks out of prison to look for him.
The problem with this film is that there seems to be a void with this film compared to the original. Half the cast is gone. The new cast seems to give it their all but comes up very short. Since most of the cast are comedians. It seems like they are improvising their routines in the context of their scenes. Where the first film had original and inspired comedic characters. This one seems to wallow in stereotypes. It is occasionally humorous but not hilarious.
The Standout is the character of Pinky Played By Clifton Powell and the female lead Played by Lisa Rodriguez, who is so gorgeous and talented that I am shocked she never went on to bigger and better. Not even smaller roles in big films or indie films.
John Witherspoon seems to be being punished for being In this film as he spends most of it running around with dog shit stuck to him. Why? It’s not funny nor does it have anything to further the story along.
The film tries but lacks a certain energy that the first film had it tries here to replace it with enthusiasm but it doesn’t work. It was the combined talent used in the first film that made it such a winning success here. Ice Cube loses the original director and Co-star. Who obviously make the crucial difference between the two films.
This is a nice attempt but maybe Ice Cube should have refined it a little before making it. Instead of just taking a first draft and assuming the masses will take what they can get from the franchise. He was partially correct as the film was a hit. Especially with a stoner audience that doesn’t ask too much for the quality, but for regular fans that is a big problem.
The film lacks quality which makes it an empty enterprise. I just don’t find Mike Epps that engaging actor or that funny. So he is a sub-par replacement for the charismatic Chris Tucker as a Sidekick.
The film has its moments but never quite measures up and wise seems more like it is pandering. As it has a good set-up but takes the main characters and leaves them as fish out of water but also cleansing half the characters that made the original great and somewhat identifiable here the characters feel more like caricatures then anything purely there for jokes that don’t work
GRADE: D+
Cut To The Chase 