Review of Friday (1995) by Jairon B — 24 Apr 2014

Famous rapper and CEO of Cube Vision Production, O'shea Jackson better known for his stage name Ice Cube, decided in 1995 to create a comedy with co-writer and also co-director Mark Jordan also known as DJ Pooh. The two creative geniuses wrote the famed movie Friday. This movie describes the typical day in the life of a young black male in the dangerous streets of South Central Los Angeles. With an all-star cast this movie was destined to be a successful production in the movie industry. This is Ice Cube's first production and the first time he has been in one of his many movie productions. This movie is the stepping stone to the success of Cube Visions Production.

Craig the leading character played by Ice Cube, starts his Friday the news he had gotten fired from his job. The ironic thing is that it was his day off when he was accused of stealing boxes from work. Craig tells his concerned neighbors that he did not steal from his job; in fact he claims that he was just picking up his weekly pay check. His job told him that they have footage of him stealing but he stills denies it. Craig has a best friend named Smokey played by famous actor Chris Tucker, and Smokey is best describe by Craig as a "weed head". This is in fact is true, because throughout the majority of the movie Smokey was rolling up joints and smoking them. The problem with him smoking, is that the marijuana he his smokes is not his. He sells for a big time neighborhood seller. Big Worm played by comedian Faizon Love, is who Smokey sells for. Come to find out he owes Big Worm three hundred dollars, and all he has is one hundred. Big Worm is furious with Smokey, but Smokey tries to explain to Big Worm on why he does not have the rest of the money. This is when he drags Craig into the situation. Earlier in the movie Smokey persuades Craig to smoke with him, and it would be Craig's first time smoking. After hearing this Big Worm shows no mercy for the two and sends the message that he would killed the two if he does not have his money by the end of the night.

Big Worm is not the only problem that the two have; there is neighborhood thug who terrorizes the whole block. Deebo played by actor Tommy Lister, has a bad habit of intimidating and mugging everyone he encounters with daily. He peer pressures Craig and Smokey into breaking into the next door neighbors house. The two do not want to do it, but they think about how Deebo treated their friend Red played by Co-writer DJ Pooh. So, the two agreed to the plan, Smokey would break in with Deebo and Craig would be the look out. After fifteen minutes the owner of the house, Stanley, returns and Craig makes the warning sound for the two to retreat from the house. The two ended getting two hundred dollars, which is the exact amount Smokey needs to pay back Big Worm. Deebo decides he is not going to even give Smokey half of what they took. This puts the two back in a hole.

Craig has a major crush on his sister Dana played by actress Regina King, friend Debbie Played by famous actress Nia Long. Craig wants his sister to help him hook up with her, but Dana refuses. Craig's mother Played by actress Anna Maria Horsford makes the whimsical joke that he has no "game" to get Debbie. She goes on to say that Craig father Willie Jones played by Comedian/Actor John Witherspoon, has all the "game". Having "game" is not the only reason he cannot have Debbie. Craig has a current girlfriend Joi played by actress Paula Jai Parker, who has real trust issues with Craig. She accuses him all the time that he cheats on her with other women. He denies all accusations she throws at him.

Craig and Smokey are running out of time and its dark time and that is when the neighborhood gets dangerous. Craig has to protect Smokey on their walk to his house. To protect him, he has a hand pistol in his drawer and as he walks out his father sees it. He is shocked that Craig has it in their household. His father asks him does he think that makes him a man. He goes on to say all he needs to protect himself is his fists. Even though he took what his father says into consideration he still takes the pistol with him. On their way to Smokey's house they are spotted by a van of gangsters possible hired by Big Worm, and they let fire off at the two. Luckily Craig has a pistol to fire back at the gangsters. The two get away from the van.

The gunshot alarmed the whole neighborhood, and they all were concerned with the safety of Craig and Smokey because they were nowhere in sight. Another problem arose when Debbie's sister Felicia was physical abuse by Deebo. Even though she is a woman she stood up to the thug, but that just angered him and he struck her. Craig sees this and shoves Deebo and pulls his pistol out and points it at him in front of the whole neighborhood. His father tells him to put the gun, and as much as he does not want he hands the gun to his father. He immediately starts a fight with Deebo. Even though he is outsized he manages to defeat the thug. By doing this he won the heart of Debbie, Smokey got the money he needed to pay Big Worm, Deebo went to prison, and Craig broke with Joi.

The only negative to this movie that it is not kid friendly, because the amount of profanity that is loosely used throughout movie other that the plotline to this movie was well constructed by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh. This is a movie I would recommend to anyone, because it is really informational. What I mean by that is that even though entertainment was Ice Cube's primary intentions he also wanted informed people on how dangerous neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles. This vision he had really put an effect on many people's lives. This is why Friday is one of my favorite movies of all times.

People must see this movie because not only will entertainment be provided, information will also be included. This classic is written by two geniuses spun off and two sequels where created to follow up the movie. The movie popularity is what kept Cube Vision Production going. Without the original Friday, Cube Visions Production would not have the success levels it has achieved over the last decade.