Movie Review - Shaft

Shaft **** (out of 5) (R) In 1971, Richard Roundtree starred in the first of what has become three movies with the same simple title. That was a cultural sensation, triggering a raft of so-called “Blaxsploitation” films - Black performers in low-budget action flicks intended for White audiences, which had not previously been the case. Pam Grier, Roundtree, Bernie Casey and others were able to reach new heights of fame, leading to successful careers in more mainstream movie and TV fare.

In 2000, Samuel L. Jackson hit the mean streets as the next generation of John Shafts righting the wrongs of his city. Where Roundtree had been a private detective, Jackson was a cop. That film was also successful, adding a smattering of levity to the hard-boiled action, with Roundtree providing an assist.

Now comes the third generation of John Shafts (Jessie T. Usher) who was raised by his momma (Regina Hall) far from the violence and menace of his daddy’s life. Pop is now a noirish shamus, complete with messy office in a shabby building in the worst part of Manhattan. Jr. is an Ivy-League nerd with great tech skills, starting adult life as a data analyst for the FBI. He is as averse to guns and violence as his father is dependent on them for business-as-usual. When one of Junior’s friends dies under suspicious circumstances, he reluctantly turns to his estranged father for help.

This edition has morphed all the way into an action comedy, with the two Shafts awkwardly trying to handle the many years of separation, and their vastly different approaches to problem-solving. Dad lives by street rules that are shocking to his letter-of-the-law progeny. There’s still plenty of mayhem in this spin on the mis-matched cop-buddy premise. Yet it’s the heavy dose of comedy that makes it such a treat, with Jackson’s wisecracks creating a terrific vehicle for the talents of this justifiably busy actor, who can seemingly play any role from dramatic, to sentimental, to superhero support staff (kids know him best as Marvel’s Nick Fury) to the memorably engaging, complex thug from Pulp Fiction. This one delivers ideal summer escapism. (6/14/19)