Soul Men (2008)

Written by Matthew Stone & Robert Ramsey
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee

The final film of both Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes, this love letter to soul/rhythm & blues of the 60's and 70's is a classic buddy pairing, and not many pairs could be as good together as Sam Jackson and Bernie Mac.

Louis Hinds (Sam Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Bernie Mac) were a hit back in the day with their group "The Real Deal" but the two faded into obscurity when their Prince/MJ-like lead singer decided to go solo and become a huge recording artist. Since then, both have moved on in their lives, Henderson owning a car dealership that his nephew now runs, and Hinds living in obscurity as a mechanic.

When their brother in music that left them behind dies, VH1 starts putting together a memorial show, and asks the remaining memebers of The Real Deal to perform as a tribute on their show. Once the two reunite they remember why they broke up, they couldn't be more different, and they both have different ideas about performing. As they reconnect with the past and a girl that may or may not be one of the men's daughter, they start to have fun and remember what they got into music for as they perform across the country in order to get ready for the big VH1 memorial show.

This is a fine last showing for Bernie Mac, it's a character he was great at playing, the befuddled, but kind hearted, hard ass. Jackson plays a real hard ass, who doesn't have much use for people other than himself, but he has ulterior motives for wanting to reunite with Floyd. It's a very funny, often poignant look at careers past, people forgotten, and friendships lost, and how people go about reconstructing their pasts. The music is top-notch, and I believe Jackson and Mac did a lot of the singing themselves, which is honestly very good.

The rest of the film is enjoyable, it's an entertaining film overall, and all the technical aspects are better than average. As I said, the music is the showcase here, and the fact that it works and is indeed very good, it allows the story to unfold and the audience to believe that these two were actually who the film is saying they were. Good filmmaking all around, too bad it's the last time Bernie Mac will ever appear in a film.

8.7/10