Soul Men would turn out to be the final films for two of its stars, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes. Neither of the men looks very healthy in the film, but it is a fun ride through the “buddy/road trip” genre and I chortled several times.
Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Bernie Mac) were singers in a trio with Marcus Hooks (John Legend) as the lead singer. Hooks broke from the group and went on to great fame and fortune. Hinds and Henderson formed a group called the Real Deal and tried to achieve the same recognition as Hooks but fell short and the group broke up.
Henderson invested his money into a successful car wash business and became rich. Hinds decided to rob a bank to get rich and ended up doing time. It’s been 20 years since either man has spoken to each other. Henderson is yearning for something exciting as his nephew has taken over the business and he’s been put into a retirement community. His life takes a turn when Hooks dies and promoter Danny Epstein (Sean Hayes) wants the duo to get back together to perform at Hooks’ gala funeral. Now he has to convince his old pal Hinds to join him on the stage.
The falling out was over a woman and such matters of the heart usually make bitter enemies. Henderson does convince the destitute Hinds to join him, but they have to travel cross country by car because Hinds doesn’t fly.
Along the way they discover more about themselves and at one time because they’re robbed they have to try and look up the women that caused their breakup. They find that she’s passed but meet her daughter Cleo (Sharon Leal), who just might be the offspring of one of them.
They also end up thrown in jail and on the run from the law. Will they be able to get to the funeral, hosted by Isaac Hayes, or will “the man” catch up to them and throw them into the clink?
Both men wouldn’t know it, but this picture would be the final one for both Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes (who ironically died the day after Mac did). Both men were older than I, but in our days of hopeful longevity it was still a shocker for the 50 year old Mac and 65 year old Hayes to shuffle off their mortal coil. Mac especially since it was pneumonia that caused his sudden death, though he did suffer from sarcoidosis.
Neither looks well during the film. Mac especially seems gaunt and haggard. Hayes has an old man’s shuffle that seems like he’s a decade older than 65. So is this a fitting end for either man? Well, yes and no.
If we knew the time and date of our ending I’m sure we’d want to go out with a bang or pick important projects to go out on. Soul Men is a funny road trip with Mac and Jackson riffing off well on each other (the two knew each other socially for quite some time). Some of that comedy is tempered with Mac’s unhealthy look and numerous jokes about death and health that seem odd after knowing that two of the film’s actors are dead. There are some funny parts and I laughed out loud at some of the situations. It did remind me at times of the Blues Brothers though.
Some family drama is thrown in when Mac starts to think that Cleo might be his daughter. There is also some fine music as Mac and Jackson perform some fine tunes. I’m not sure that it’s a fitting memorial to Hayes’ music or Mac’s comedy, but I guess it will have to do.
Soul Men is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary from director Malcolm Lee and writers Matt Stone and Bob Ramsey. The 9 minute “Soul Men” looks at the men behind the soul, Mac and Jackson.
The 7 minute “Cast of Soul Men” takes a look at the other players in front of the camera. The 3 minute “Director Malcolm Lee” looks at, well, the director Malcolm Lee. There are also two tributes to Mac (7 minutes) and Hayes (4 minutes). The 2 minute “Boogie Ain’t Nuttin’” has some behind the scenes footage. The 4 minute “Bernie Mac at the Apollo” has Mac entertaining the extras between shots with some standup and you also get the 2 minute theatrical trailer.
It may not be a fitting end to the careers of either of the deceased performers, but Soul Men does have some funny bits. It’s nothing groundbreaking though. A fun buddy picture for fans of soul, but really nothing more.
Soul Men is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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