"Barbershop 2 explores how a community copes with change,” says producer George Tillman Jr., “especially when change threatens to destroy what makes a community unique. This time we look at how change affects the attitudes of the people that live and work there, and how everyone continues to change in their own lives regardless of what’s going on around them. There’s lots of stuff going on in this one.”
Ice Cube and Eve joined their fellow “Barbershop 2” co-stars for the movie’s Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Here’s what a few of the stars of the movie had to say about working on this much-anticipated sequel:
ICE CUBE ('Calvin'):
Will this sequel be as controversial as the original?
I don't know. Who cares? I think we made a good movie. The first time, we weren't really looking for controversy. We just wanted to make a good movie, so [the] second time around we did the same thing. If it's controversial, so be it.
How has your character evolved?
He's a father now. Everything is serious. There's no more play. It's all about business and making sure things happen. I think that's how he's grown. Any time you have a child, you're taking a big step in growing.
How do you feel about coming back for this sequel?
It was a good thing. We had everybody back. It was fun and that's a good thing.
What's coming up for you?
I'm working on a movie called "Are we There Yet" and "XXX2."
EVE ('Terri'):
Was it inevitable that you'd come back for "Barbershop 2?"
It was fun. I think the deciding factor for a lot of people was that everybody was coming back, and that it was summer in Chicago.
What is it about barbershops themselves that make them so special?
I think there's so much gossip. They don't call it 'gossip' in the barbershop, but it's all talked about. Everything's talked about. Everybody knows their business.
Are they after your apple juice again in this sequel?
It's brought up, but it's not... It's funny the way they brought it up.
How's everything going on your TV show?
Everything's going really well. It's hard, but I'm happy. In the beginning, I was a little sour, but I'm happy now. I've finally gotten into that groove that I thought everybody was lying to me about. But I'm into it.
CARL WRIGHT ('Checkers Fred'):
How has Checkers Fred grown?
He hasn't really grown that much. He's still Checkers Fred from the first movie straightening Eddie out. Eddie is Cedric the Entertainer. We're the two old guys who [are] left from [when] the old man had the shop before Ice Cube took it over. So he's practically the same guy.
Has he gotten any better at checkers?
Yes. He's still cheating.
Are you good at checkers?
Well, I can play a little bit. I learned when I was a kid. They used to have the old men playing checkers outside the barbershop and inside the barbershop. They played on homemade checkerboards. We used to make our own checkerboards and what we would use for checkers would be bottle tops.
Did you do additional research for "Barbershop?"
I didn't have to because I knew enough from being a kid playing checkers.
Did you have any idea the first one would be so successful?
No, I didn't. Like everyone else, I was hoping it would be, of course, but that little controversy they had, I think allowed a lot of people to go see it through curiosity. What was said and what was done - that type of thing.
What will be the controversy about this one?
I don't think we're going to have any in this one. I don't think we went that direction this time.
Was there a lot of improvising with Cedric the Entertainer?
Yes. Most of the things that we were doing [were] being improvised [between he] and I.
Could you keep up with him?
Could he keep up with me?
MORE INTERVIEWS FROM THE "BARBERSHOP 2:" PREMIERE:
Jazsmin Lewis, Michael Ealy and Leonard Howze / Premiere Guest Angell Conwell
"Barbershop 2" Premiere Photo Gallery
Additional "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" Resources:
"Barbershop 2" Photo Gallery
"Barbershop 2" Soundtrack News
"Barbershop 2" Trailer and Movie News
