Calvin Palmer, Jr. (Ice Cube) is still in his barbershop. The south side of Chicago is overwhelmed with shootings. Tough times have forced Calvin to cohabit with the beauty shop. Rashad (Common) has married Terri (Eve) but their marriage is facing problems. Calvin is losing his son Jalen to a gang and he blames Rashad's son Kenny. Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas) tells the gang that city hall has a proposal to reduce the violence by isolating the neighborhood. Calvin attempts to stop the shootings with a weekend truce and free haircuts. Meanwhile Draya (Nicki Minaj) is trying to take Rashad for herself.

I like this attempt at the subject matter a little better than Spike Lee. It's great to have some of the gang return but it's a mistake to go co-ed. The earlier movies have an interesting male voice which would be intriguing for the gun issue. Bringing in the beauty shop changes the chemistry and the point of view. Lamorne Morris is a fun addition to the crew and a great punching bag for their jokes. Nicki Minaj is a little distracting because she's Nicki Minaj. Anthony Anderson reprises his role from the original but the serious subject matter doesn't seem to fit with his silly antics. Overall, this is a compelling subject done with heart and humor.

Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer return in a belated sequel Barbershop: The Next Cut which feels less like a comedy and more a dramedy with socio-political commentary relating to gang violence in Chicago.

The Barber shop is now mixed with a female co-owner and had Nicky Minaj as a brassy hairdresser who makes a play for Ice Cube's best friend and fellow hairdresser Common.

There is plenty of making fun and discussing topical issues but gang violence gets in the forefront as Ice Cube's son is getting older and wilder. Ice Cube thinks the neighbourhood is no longer safe and wants to move out for the sake of his son.

Not sure offering free haircuts would ever end gang violence but the film felt mawkish and heavy handed when the comedy should had been in the forefront.

"Barbershop used to be a place of peace." Chicago is in a bad way. The violence has begun to take over and it finally hits the area around Calvin's (Cube) barbershop. When Calvin's son becomes involved in gang violence he has to once again wonders if the best course of action for his family is to close the shop. This series has been very strange. The first one was funny but didn't think it needed a sequel. The second one was really bad and I didn't like it at all. This one though I thought was the best of all 3. That being said that all pretty much have the same plot. This one has nothing all that original and the movie is fairly predictable but the reason to watch isn't for the plot. This movie has a great and very timely message. It was a little strange to see the guy responsible for F the Police to have such a strong anti-violence movie…but that actually adds a little to the impact of it. Overall, the best of the series with one of the best messages of any movie in the last few years. I actually recommend this for that, and the laughs. I give this a B.