Next Friday 2000, Rated R New Line Home Video

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During the last ten years, writing a review for a sequel (or silver screen adaptations of '60's sit-coms) has become somewhat standard: (fill in film title) has moments but, as a whole, failed to create the same energy or (humor, action, character development) as the original. And while I can't say that Next Friday possesses all the charm and laughs of the original Friday, the end result of director Steve Carr's film was halfway enjoyable. Picking up where Friday left out, Craig (Ice Cube) is shipped off to his relatives in the suburbs to avoid the wrath of Debo (Tiny Lister Jr.), whom Craig had recently bashed in the head with a brick. Out in the 'burbs, Craig finds life is just as complicated and troublesome as in the 'hood. Dropping Chris Tucker from the cast and writer/producer DJ Pooh and director F. Gary Gray from behind the camera, Next Friday suffered a severe drop in talent, but overcame this shortage by throwing a lot of funny, if somewhat stereotypical, supporting characters into the mix.