Director: Tim Story
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Richard Roundtree, Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp
Running Time: 112 minutes
Synopsis: In Harlem of 1989, private investigator John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) is ambushed by thugs working for gang leader Gordito. Shaft's girlfriend Maya (Regina Hall) is fed-up with the violence and leaves him, taking Shaft's young son J.J. with her. 20 years later, J.J. (Jessie T. Usher) is an analyst working at the FBI's New York office. When his best friend Karim dies under suspicious circumstances, J.J seeks his father's help to investigate. Father and son need to get re-acquainted, while the trail of evidence leads to a mosque, a veteran support group, and none other than Gordito. When more firepower is needed, Shaft turns to his legendary father John Shaft Sr. (Richard Roundtree) for support.
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Richard Roundtree, Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp
Running Time: 112 minutes
Synopsis: In Harlem of 1989, private investigator John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) is ambushed by thugs working for gang leader Gordito. Shaft's girlfriend Maya (Regina Hall) is fed-up with the violence and leaves him, taking Shaft's young son J.J. with her. 20 years later, J.J. (Jessie T. Usher) is an analyst working at the FBI's New York office. When his best friend Karim dies under suspicious circumstances, J.J seeks his father's help to investigate. Father and son need to get re-acquainted, while the trail of evidence leads to a mosque, a veteran support group, and none other than Gordito. When more firepower is needed, Shaft turns to his legendary father John Shaft Sr. (Richard Roundtree) for support.
What Works Well: The fifth film in the series that started in 1971, this version benefits from Samuel L. Jackson in top form oozing confidence and swagger, and the ultimately irresistible premise of three generations of John Shaft joining forces to eliminate evil. The sharp script (by Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow) is filled with humour, profanity, and zingers, and packed with loud and intense action scenes. The rapid-fire father-son interactions are juiced by clashing inter-generational perspectives and a few character-driven surprises (J.J. does not like guns, until he does).
What Does Not Work As Well: The plot is overcomplicated, but also underexplained and reduced to filler material between the action set-pieces and buddy-movie dynamics. The balance tilts too far towards jovial, sanding-off the character's edge and any sense of jeopardy.
Key Quote:
Shaft: In general, women want a man... to be manly.
J.J.: I'm pretty sure women don't like being told what it is that they like.
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