neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Friday After Next
	Marcus Raboy Ice Cube, Mike Epps, John Witherspoon, Don "D.C." Curry, K.D. Aubert, Anna Maria Horsford 2002		On the heels of his estimable showing in the humorous, humane film "Barbershop," actor/rapper Ice Cube ("Three Kings," "Boyz N the Hood") takes a step back with the uninspired slapstick and crude jokes of "Friday After Next," the third in a run of inner-city comedies that began with the easy laughs and stoner appeal of 1995's sleeper hit "Friday." "Next Friday," the second movie, was a disappointment. "Friday After Next," the Christmas-themed follow-up, is only slightly better. Cube is again teamed with his "Next Friday" and "All About the Benjamins" co-star Mike Epps, as indulgent ghetto slacker Craig (Cube) and his craven cousin and roommate Day-Day (Epps). It's late December in South Central L.A., and Craig and Day-Day are broke. Although they'd prefer to get high and get laid, their rent is due by Christmas Eve and a drunken home-invader in a Santa suit has stolen the presents from under their tree. To pay the bills, they take jobs as security guards at a local shopping center, where they're tormented by sleazy merchants, gang-bangers, dumb cops, relatives and a vile ex-con. It's a very un-merry Christmas for all.