Review of Friday (1995) by Fraser M — 17 Feb 2011

There is something about minimalist cinema that fascinates me. Setting an entire film in an enclosed space, or within a single day forces the screenplay to focus on detailed, believable dialogue that is dense enough, and engaging enough, to capture an audience without the distractions of multiple locations or fancy special-effects. If successful, minimalist films entice an audience into a space we can relate to, fleshing out the smallest details that construct a space that becomes real. Ice Cube succeeds in every way with his screenplay for Friday, a film that has us waking up with Craig on a Friday in a sleepy neighborhood full of quirky characters and a thug who needs to be put in his place. There are no big twists, no haughty revelations about life in the hood, just a down to earth, quaint and hilarious slice of a life too real to be real, but believable enough to be engaging.

Cue the lovable cast of outrageous characters that make Friday such a treat. Craig's flatulent father who claims to have "game" is ridiculous, and yet, he is alive with fatherly traits any son will recognize. Smokey, played by Chris Tucker, is equally exaggerated, but exactly the kind of friend we can imagine having, the one who wants nothing more than to chill out and land us in more trouble than we could ever anticipate.

Friday is a film that deserves more credit than the underwhelming label of 'comedy.' It is an expertly crafted tale of a young man standing up for himself when faced with an insurmountable menace, and distinguishing himself in a neighborhood that seems to thrive on mediocrity. Friday is hilarious, but this film also has heart, and it most definitely has game. Ice Cube's recent descent into trashy family flicks is made more depressing with the knowledge that he was capable of so much more. Friday will stand tall as a testament to his outstanding ability as both a writer and an actor.