Soul Men
The joy of life and living is so great in this film, it’s very easy to put aside the sadness real-life forces you to carry into it. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee- related to Spike- “Soul Men” is a reunion road movie with a song in its’ heart and a soul on its’ sleeve. Both are provided by the actors at the center of the film, as rivals/former bandmates Hines and Henderson get in a car on their way to the Apollo theatre in New York for a tribute concert for the R&B icon they once performed backup vocals for.
Hines and Henderson are played by Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, respectively. Sadly, this is Mac’s last onscreen performance (not including his touching vocal work in “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” which opened the same weekend), as he passed away from complications from pneumonia in August at age 50 (ironically, the same weekend Issac Hayes- the soul icon who has a wonderful cameo in this film- also passed away; the film is dedicated to them both). Lee presents a tribute to Mac’s heartfelt and hilarious talent in a end-credit montage of clips and outtakes and moments of the actor being interviewed about his art.
Fortunately, “Soul Men” has the actor going out on top, capping a career of deadpan seriousness laced with smiling mischief with a performance that gets right to the heart of a character looking to go out on his own terms after circumstances conspire against him when his collaboration with Hines goes south. Sounds just right for an actor who, in his own way, was edgier than Chris Rock (his co-star in the underrated “Head of State”), more charismatic than Eddie Murphy (watch the “Ocean’s” films for proof), and immensely appealing in everything he did.
Matching him beat-for-beat is Jackson, whose Hines ultimately gives in to the groove and desire for a second chance his former partner so craves after at first just wanting to let his life go unchanged, even if that means living in a rundown apartment, working as a mechanic after some time in prison, and never getting to know the daughter (the lovely Sharon Leal) his ex-wife may or may not have had with him back in the day. Jackson is his customary excellence as he shows moves and chops that come both as a surprise, and as a not-so-shocking revelation, for long-time fans of the actor. Add to that supporting turns by Adam Herschman (“Accepted”) as an intern assigned to get the duo there and Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”) as the record label manager putting on the show, and Jennifer Coolidge (the Christopher Guest vet also known as Stifler’s mom from “American Pie”) as a hottie who has some interesting surprises for the two men, and you have a funny valentine to talents who won’t go quietly into obscurity, and second chances life sometimes throws in our lap.
