Shaft. Sam Jackson corners the market on super-cool
"Shaft" is a cinematic icon. Samuel L. Jackson is once again taking on the mantle of the coolest guy on the big screen in a multi-generational story that brings up one interesting question - what do you do with more than one Shaft?
What we may not have ever suspected before is that Shaft is a father. He's known about the kid for years, but was an absentee dad and doesn't even recognize his old son when he comes knocking. After more than 20 years of estrangement former cop turned no holds barred private investigator John Shaft is reunited with his son, JJ, who turns to his Dad to solve the murder of a friend. Turns out JJ is more of a by the rules kind of guy.
Eventually, the father-son duo needs a little more help and turn to grand-dad for assistance, resulting in a not-so surprise appearance by the original Shaft, Richard Roundtree.
What we may not have ever suspected before is that Shaft is a father. He's known about the kid for years, but was an absentee dad and doesn't even recognize his old son when he comes knocking. After more than 20 years of estrangement former cop turned no holds barred private investigator John Shaft is reunited with his son, JJ, who turns to his Dad to solve the murder of a friend. Turns out JJ is more of a by the rules kind of guy.
Eventually, the father-son duo needs a little more help and turn to grand-dad for assistance, resulting in a not-so surprise appearance by the original Shaft, Richard Roundtree.
The script for Shaft was co-written by Kenya Barris, the creator of the extremely funny TV show “Black-ish,” which is why this film is billed as a combo action/comedy. However, Barris’s ability to put lots of meaning and laughs into a 22-minute sit-com does not translate well to the big screen. Shaft has a lot of funny moments, but gets bogged down in cartoonish shootouts in which only the bad guys contribute to the body count even when the Shafts are outgunned. In a nod to the “me too” era, Jesse T. Usher’s “Junior” does a good job of calling out Pop on his sexism, but seems happy to buy into it if it suits him. And instead of making Samuel L Jackson seem his normal sexy and cool, the situations feel more… icky. Even Regina Hall, who delivers some razor-sharp lines comes off as more of a shrew than a smart, strong single mom who brought up her son on her own.
Jackson’s appeal may result in strong ticket sales for this film, but fans may feel like they’re getting the “shaft” with this muddled family dramedy.
Jackson’s appeal may result in strong ticket sales for this film, but fans may feel like they’re getting the “shaft” with this muddled family dramedy.