The suburbs make the hood look good.
A companion piece to the 1995 hit comedy Friday, Next Friday takes up where the original left off, although this time the action switches from south central LA to suburbia. In the initial Friday, Craig Jones (Ice Cube) bails his friend out of trouble, survives a climatic confrontation with Debo (Tommy "Tiny" Lister Junior), the neighbourhood bully, and ends up with the girl. In Next Friday the bully is back as Debo, who's spent two years behind bars, is released from prison and is bent on revenge.
Fearing for his son's safety, Craig's father (John Witherspoon) sends his son to live with Uncle Elroy (Don "DC" Curry) and cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps). The two have parlayed their lottery winnings into a home in the suburbs of Rancho Cucamonga. However, Craig soon learns that trouble can find you no matter where you live. Once again, forces beyond his control will test his survival skills and his commitment to family and Craig, with comic relief from day-day, will rise to the challenge.
Special Agent Matti
Now you've got to like a character named Craig. Craigs are intelligent, thoughtful, sensitive, sensual, pro-active and pretty darn good value for money. Craigs are everywhere, not so rare that you're surprised to find one but not so common that you'll find two of them in the same room. They're a very special breed. Ice named his character "Craig" for a reason. Think about it.
It's just a pity that the Friday franchise is no great shakes. If Cheech and Chong had smoked less pot and spent more time finding curtains that match the furniture they might have given the world something like this film. It's a mediocre effort from a man who was once a radical but has now settled comfortably into middle age, the middle class and a bit of middle age spread. All those wild things he was into as an angry young man have been tamed by time and money. Next Friday is the result. Respectability has a lot to answer for.
Save it for a rainy day.
MA 15+ (Medium level coarse language, drug use)
98 minutes (1:38 hours)
VHS retail: 11 July 2001