SOUL MEN
CAROLINE: I took one for the team and saw one of the year’s worst movies, “Soul Men,” by myself. It stars Samuel L. Jackson and the recently deceased Bernie Mac as two-thirds of an old R&B group who are asked to reunite when their former lead singer dies.
RYAN: I was supposed to see this with you but had to do something else at the last minute; sorry I wasn’t there to commiserate.
CAROLINE: Honestly, I was a little disgusted by this movie. Everyone else in the audience was laughing, so maybe it’s just me. But I found the humor lowbrow and juvenile – like the lowest common denominator kind of humor. Within the first ten minutes, we had proctology jokes, Viagra jokes, boob jokes, etc. The N-word is used liberally, as is motherf***er. So it got a little tired.
RYAN: That’s the epitome of what I don’t like in a comedy.
CAROLINE: It just wasn’t funny to me at all. I may have chuckled once, but that was it. It’s also got a road trip element, which feels forced.
RYAN: I wasn’t that into the trailer for this movie but there are two people in it who piqued my interest – Jennifer Coolidge, who’s so great in “Legally Blonde” and all the Christopher Guest movies, and Sean Hayes from TV’s “Will & Grace.”
CAROLINE: Love Jennifer Coolidge, but she’s in the movie for about three minutes. And her part is gross – it involves dentures and oral sex.
RYAN: Yes, I remember it from the trailer.
CAROLINE: Sean Hayes has a bigger part and it’s fun to see him.
RYAN: Was his character funny?
CAROLINE: Not really. He’s got more of a “straight” role – pun intended. He plays a music exec who’s trying to get the two washed up musicians back together, so he’s all business.
RYAN: He’s so desperate to play a different kind of role than Just Jack.
CAROLINE: Seems so. Basically, I was pretty much miserable for the whole movie and contemplating leaving early. But I forced myself to stay; it’s only 90 minutes long, which is good.
RYAN: Was there anything redeeming about it whatsoever?
CAROLINE: I really liked the music. The songs are great; Bernie and Samuel L. sing their own parts and do a decent job. The dead band member is played by real-life R&B singer John Legend, who’s amazing. So I really liked all the musical numbers and the old Motown feel.
RYAN: We always love a movie musical, and I’m sure it was better than “Idlewild.” How was that girl, Sharon Leal, who was in “Dreamgirls”?
CAROLINE: She’s fine. She gets to sing a lot too.
RYAN: I’m over this movie. Bottom line?
CAROLINE: I’m sure people will see it because Bernie Mac is dead. Fans of his will enjoy it. And don’t forget, this is the movie where Isaac Hayes makes a cameo, and he died within a day or two of Bernie. But last I heard, Samuel L. Jackson was still breathing.
RYAN: [laughs’ Good thing.
CAROLINE: I didn’t like the humor in this movie at all so I wouldn’t recommend it. You should only see it if you’re mourning the loss of Bernie Mac and want to see him one last time. Otherwise, skip it.