Shaft (2019) Warner Bros./Action-Comedy RT: 111 minutes Rated R (pervasive language, violence, sexual content, some drug material, brief nudity) Director: Tim Story Screenplay: Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow Music: Christopher Lennertz Cinematography: Larry Blanford Release date: June 14, 2019 (US) Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Jesse T. Usher, Richard Roundtree, Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp, Matt Lauria, Titus Welliver, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Isaach De Bankole, Avan Jogia, Luna Lauren Velez, Robbie Jones, Aaron Dominguez, Ian Casselberry, Almeera Jiwa, Amato D’Apolito, Leland Jones, Jalyn Hall, Chivonne Michelle, Tashiana Washington. Box Office: $21.3M (US)
Rating: ***
As much as I dig Richard Roundtree’s iconic Harlem private eye John Shaft in the 1971 original, I prefer John Singleton’s 2000 reboot/sequel starring Samuel L. Jackson in the title role in which he played cop-turned-PI John Shaft II, nephew to John Shaft. It has more action and violence. The newest Shaft reteams Jackson and Roundtree AND brings another John Shaft into the fold. He’s the son of John Shaft II, Junior (Usher, Independence Day: Resurgence), and not exactly a chip off the old block. Whereas the senior Shafts would never deign to work for The Man, Junior is an FBI computer analyst routinely berated and put down by his dick off a boss (Welliver, Bosch). If either Shaft was dead, he’d be spinning in his grave right about now.
As a counterpoint to the senior Shafts’ anti-establishment/pro-black masculinity views, Junior not only works for a government that constantly marginalizes people of color, he’s also a millennial who eats healthy, doesn’t drink, hates guns and goes out of his way to respect women. How does this happen to a Shaft? Easy, he was raised by his mama, JS II’s ex Maya (Hall, Girls Trip) after an incident in ’89 when Junior was just a baby. She took Junior and left after thugs ambushed Shaft on the street with mother and son in the line of fire. So let’s see, we have a non-violent, tech-savvy, health-conscious, politically correct, part-of-the-machine member of the Shaft clan. I guess that makes him the white sheep of the family.
ANYWAY, let’s briefly discuss the plot of Shaft, a sequel/reboot featuring three generations of the baddest family to hit the streets of Harlem. It’s no great shakes. It all starts when Junior’s best friend Karim (Jogia, 2017’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) is murdered. Junior is determined to find out who’s responsible so he goes to see his father after not seeing him for 25 years. It’s not exactly a joyous reunion. Junior is resentful but desperate. The elder Shaft is too cool for all that. Their investigation leads to a drug ring and an old nemesis of Shaft II, reclusive drug lord Gordito (De Bankole, Casino Royale).
Where is Shaft #1 during all this? Not sure, he doesn’t show up until the last 20 minutes of the picture. Once Roundtree gets involved, Shaft really kicks into high action gear. At 76, he still has a few good moves in him. He also has an arsenal that would make John Matrix from Commando jealous.
As much as I like the new Shaft, it’s definitely the weakest of the series. Its biggest problem is choice of director. I’m not sure whose idea it was to hire Tim Story, the guy behind the Ride Along and Think Like a Man movies, but he’s the wrong choice. He turns what should be a gritty action picture into an action-comedy with Jackson uttering more jokes than tough guy dialogue. There’s even a self-referential remark about Laurence Fishburne. I’ll cop to laughing several times during Shaft. I had a great time watching it despite its tonal mishandling. In his defense, Story keeps things moving a fairly rapid clip. He also knows how to stage a good action scene. The fights- guns, fists and knives- are well orchestrated if a bit too stylized at times. Slo-mo bullets, really? Please.
At first, I found Usher’s character annoying. I secretly hoped his dad would knock some sense into the boy. What kind of dummy goes into a Harlem drug den alone and questions the guy in charge? That deserves at least a smack upside the head. In any event, his character grows on you. The contrast between millennial Shaft and old school Shaft (and older school Shaft) is interesting. I’ve already pointed out the differing values, but I haven’t touched on sexual attitudes yet. The elder Shafts love the ladies; it’s their duty to please that booty. When Junior first shows up as his father’s office, a half-naked woman answers the door. Moments later, Dad shows up with glitter in his beard. Junior is horrified. He’s been raised to not treat women as sex objects. He can’t even get up the courage to ask his childhood friend Sasha (Shipp, X-Men: Apocalypse) out on a date. Naturally, Dad gives him a few points and a hard nudge in the right direction.
It’s great seeing Jackson back in action. I always hoped he’d do a sequel to his Shaft. Obviously, it’s also great seeing Roundtree don his bad threads one more time. Shipp is very easy on the eyes. Nah, she’s HOT! Hall is loud, shrill and unpleasant as the angry ex who wishes her baby’s daddy would just grow the f up already. Velez (of TV’s Dexter) has a small but memorable role as a drug lord who’s somehow involved in the plot. There’s a great scene with her and Junior.
I have to say that I HATE the new Shaft theme. Instead of using Isaac Hayes’ iconic theme, the very definition of cool, we get some auto-tuned hip-hop song by rapper Quavo (“Too Much Shaft”). It sucks! There’s no rule that says everything in a reboot has to be new. Why not provide a strong connection to the original? Thankfully, Shaft contains some good old school R&B. It’s also a pretty good flick. I realize it’s hollow summer entertainment but it gets the job done. It’s a solid Saturday night action movie. Besides, Junior has the potential (genetically speaking) to be a bad mother…. SHUT YO’ MOUTH!
