Next Friday (2000)

★
As of this writing, I have yet to see Friday, a 1995 comedy of which I know nothing. After seeing Next Friday, it isn't likely that I'll watch the first film anytime soon, though failed sequels are common enough that I should probably check it out one day. This movie is an absolute abomination. It contains some of the unfunniest jokes to hit the screen. Is it really funny to watch a dog crap on someone's yard? To make it worse, the camera lingers on the pile for about five seconds before cutting away. Then Mr. Jones (John Witherspoon) steps out of his house, and the intelligent viewer will anticipate his coming into contact with the pile in one way or another.

Ice Cube wrote and produced this mess, as he did with the first film. He's a good actor (sometimes), and his performance in this film isn't so bad, but his script is layered with crude humor, unfunny jokes and people randomly passing gas. Every character is either stoned, stereotyped, irritating or unappealing. Most of the time, everyone is just mouthing off at each other rather than engaging in any real conversation. To take a look at how a film like this might work, watch Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke. Of the four qualities I just mentioned, only "stoned" and "stereotyped" can be applied to the characters in that movie. It also had witty dialogue and likable characters. Next Friday is basically a cheap side show carnival.

The movie tells us that from the first film, Craig Jones (Ice Cube) beat up a local punk named Debo (Tom Lister, Jr.). Five years later, Debo breaks out of jail to even the score. When Craig hears about this, his father sends him to the suburbs to live with his uncle Elroy (Don Curry), who hit the lottery and bought a nice house. Craig meets up with his cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps), who says that there are no gunshots, crackheads or police in the neighborhood. There are three gangster brothers living across the street, though. They have a sister named Karla (Lisa Rodríguez), to whom Craig becomes attracted. Director Steve Carr leaves this plot development unresolved at the end.

Along with the complications with the neighbors, Debo and his brother fool Mr. Jones into driving back to the house where Craig is staying in order to lead them right to him. Before the trip, Mr. Jones goes to the bathroom, then buys a burrito. During the trip, he has to go to the bathroom again. Ha ha ha. The story exists for one reason: It serves the purpose of allowing Ice Cube to hurl as many stupid jokes as he can to the audience. I noticed one person in the audience who seemed to be enjoying himself, which was evident because he was throwing his fist into the air and laughing. I admit I chuckled a few times, but in no way did I ever feel that this movie ever worked as a good comedy.

I can only hope that 2000 doesn't have many more movies like this to offer. Next Friday is aimed at anyone who doesn't appreciate an original or truly funny comedy. At the time that this rubbish is playing, there are still many terrific films that are being held over from the end of 1999. If you find yourself trapped in Next Friday, you may have to wait until next Friday before this film's badness evaporates from your memory.

© 2000 Silver Screen Reviews