A surprisingly well-executed movie, Barbershop catches people off-guard who expect it to be mindless rap music, slang, drug use, and the usual hip-hop related fare. Instead, Calvin's barbershop in Barbershop functions as the neighborhood center, where everyone knows everyone's name and everyone has an opinion. Set in Chicago's south side, the barbershop has a colorful cast of street-smart characters run through it, with young Calvin (Ice Cube) and old man Eddie (Cedric The Entertainer) as shop ringleaders.

While not a stellar movie, Barbershop is just simply entertaining. Lighthearted and with a social conscience, it does more than just offer wisecracks and rap music. The pathetic criminal bunglings of J.D. (Anthony Anderson) and Billy (Lahmard Tate) are genuinely funny, and old man Eddie, surrounded by hip young people, is always ready to show them what their generation lacks.