A terrific film full of wonderful characters

Barbershop

Director: Tim Story

Cast: Ice Cube, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Anthony Anderson, Troy Garity, Cedric the Entertainer

Cert: 12.

Something for the weekend, sir?

Yes, this terrific film, a clever examination of African-American society, as seen during one day in a Chicago barbershop; full of wonderful characters.

The shop is owned by Ice Cube's character - and isn't Mr Cube making some interesting films? - who is contemplating selling out. His collection of colourful and witty customers would rather he didn't.

For some strange reason this film was heavily criticised by Jessie Jackson and the Rev Al Sharpton - they didn't like the references to such Black icons as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King - but what they clearly failed to grasp was the underlying humanity of the piece, the warm-hearted consistency of the story, the sheer force of what we see on screen.

It is a film set around the universal themes of friendship and laughter; so who finds that offensive?

Star Rating: 4/5