Another movie starring a rapper already. It is the source of several memes and quotes I've known -- more than I realized, in fact. "Bye, Felicia" may be the most overrated line ever, but I still hoped to get something worthwhile out of the viewing.
In South Central L.A., Craig (Ice Cube) has just been fired, supposedly for an offense he didn't commit. Before he starts looking for work, his buddy Smokey (Chris Tucker) encourages him to relax for a day, partly with weed. This is a mistake, not least because Smokey, an ostensible dealer, has been using up his merchandise, and supplier Big Worm (Faizon Love) threatens to kill them both if he doesn't get $200 compensation in a matter of hours.
That last plot point doesn't get much focus until the third act. First we get an episodic series of conflict-ridden interactions with various neighbors and family members. I'd call it a character study of the ghetto, except that the setting is suburban. Perhaps it's better summarized as Killer of Sheep played for laughs. Actor names that meant something to me include Nia Long, Tiny Lister, Regina King, Bernie Mac, F. Gary Gray, and an uncredited Michael Clarke Duncan.
Many people, regardless of race, have found '90s Tucker annoying, but I have to say he's the highlight this time around. His exaggerated delivery made me chuckle a few times, which is rare when I watch alone. Maybe he's just more convincingly natural for a stoned lowlife than, say, a cop or radio host. In that sense, he reminds me of early Keanu Reeves.
The R rating is for language as well as drugs. It also has bathroom humor, so I guess the target audience isn't much older than 17. Only toward the climax do things get remotely serious with an anti-gun message, and even a drive-by shooting is treated as semi-comedic.
Tucker's absence from the sequels might explain why they were less popular. But honestly, Friday doesn't feel like the kind of picture that calls for a sequel. When everyone's going nowhere fast, once is enough.
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