In an era of movies where successful sequels are in abundance, Barbershop 2 holds its own in a class of movies like X-Men 2, Terminator 2, and The Mummy Returns among others.

Barbershop 2 is the follow-up to 2002’s Barbershop, a film that sparked much controversy due to crude references to Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Rodney King, and even Jesse Jackson, who wanted people to boycott the film. The movie still turned out to be a hit and was even nominated for an NAACP Image Award.

All of the original crew members from the first Barbershop movie continue their runs in the sequel. The only change is that Jimmy, the somewhat ‘militant’ brother, has quit his job as a barber and become an assistant to a corrupt politician.

In this movie, Calvin finds himself struggling once again to keep his late father’s barbershop up and running. This time, the crew is threatened by a competing franchise known as Nappy Cuts. This barbershop is far more advanced and offers many luxuries, such as an indoor basketball court, highly advanced clippers that are not yet for sell in the United States, and ‘milk bath’ massages for female customers.

However, according to Calvin, with all of these qualities, Nappy Cuts lack “real people and real conversation,” the key element that makes a barbershop an essential part of a community.

The difference in Barbershop 2 from the original is that it focuses more on society and its’ issues.

The movie pulls this off from a series of flashbacks involving Eddie. They chronicle his importance to the shop, from his first encounter with Calvin’s father as he unknowingly hides in the shop while running from the police to a visit from the historic Black Panthers after Eddie becomes an employee to an eerie scene in which Eddie and Calvin Sr. sit back and watch the riots on the streets of Chicago on the night of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

These flashbacks give you a sense of how important Eddie is to the shop after one customer asks, “How come you are always the only one who ain't never working?”

Barbershop 2 stars Ice Cube, who also directs the film, Cedric the Entertainer, Eve, Michael Ealy, Harry J. Lennix, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy Garrity, and a special appearance by Queen Latifah.

Barbershop 2 is playing at the Cine in Martin.