Soul Men (Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Sharon Leal, Sean Hayes, Isaac Hayes) – What fun! Samuel L. “Don’t Tick Him Off” Jackson and Bernie Mac play Louis Hinds and Floyd Henderson, two long-forgotten members of a hit R&B pop group known as “Marcus Hooks and The Real Deal.” They are The Real Deal, abandoned by Marcus when he went solo. Louis (Jackson) went to jail and now works in a garage while Floyd (Mac) started a strong of R-rated car washes. Louis is mean and bitter while Floyd is being put out to pasture by his nephew who has taken over the business. The two are thrown back together when Marcus drops dead and a tribute concert is being put together at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Everyone wants The Real Deal to perform along with other more famous acts in a tribute led by Isaac Hayes. The two guys not only lost touch; they have long-brewing issues all revolving around the same woman.
It is here that the movie becomes a road picture complete with music, guns, rednecks, a young girl and her derelict boyfriend and would-be rap star. The interplay of these fine actors and comedians is worth the price of admission. It’s all the more interesting because this was the last movie for Bernie Mac, who died shortly after filming. So did Isaac Hayes so make sure you stick around for the tribute to both in the credits. This film is predictable and improbable but that doesn’t matter. It is just plain amusing both to watch Sam Jackson sing and dance and Bernie Mac mug for the camera. The movie is only playing in a few theaters, perhaps because the distributors think it will appeal mainly to an African American crowd. But for anyone who is fan of these actors or who enjoyed the black pop groups of the ’70s, you’d enjoy this … as long as you don’t mind the constant foul language that garnered the “R” rating.