Soul MenMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 49 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
16 Iffy for 16+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    This movie has a lot of good music in it, some on the soundtrack, some on the screen. Jackson and Bernie Mac have enormous fun doing intricate dance moves together. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    This contemporary riff on "The Sunshine Boys" generally manages to succeed anyway, thanks to the entertaining performances by Mac and co-star Samuel L. Jackson and its generous doses of raucous humor and sweet soul music. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety | Brian Lowry

    There's a nice chemistry between Mac and Samuel L. Jackson in this latest variant of the road movie, which contains comedic elements but actually works better as a drama. Read full review

  • 63
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Soul Men is a chance to salute these masters of mirth and music. Take it. Read full review

  • 63
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    The material doesn't consistently do justice to their talents, but the movie is worth seeing for their chemistry and for the Motown-infused soundtrack. Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    A raucous, rambling comedy, offering some laughs, some groans and a feast for fans of the musical idioms it mocks and celebrates. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    Needless to say, Soul Men has a lot to overcome in its effort to be funny. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    There are two reasons to put up with Soul Men, and that's the soul men themselves. Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac appear to be having a good time, and for most of this raunchy, poorly orchestrated buddy comedy, that's enough. Read full review

  • 50
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Soul Men could have done with less amped-up abrasiveness and more soft-shoe charm. Read full review

  • 40
    Washington Post | Michael O'Sullivan

    Misbegotten buddy-bonding comedy of errors. Read full review

View more reviews for Soul Men on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 16+ Late great Bernie Mac's last laugh is for adults.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this risqué comedy is the last film to star popular comedian Bernie Mac, who died a few months before its release. It also stars Samuel L. Jackson; younger fans of either actor may want to see the film, but it's not being targeted to kids or teens. The jokes -- and sex scenes -- are definitely R-rated (breasts and buttocks are shown during love scenes, and there's frequent strong language and plenty of Viagra jokes). That said, despite the raunchiness, there are overarching themes of friendship, loyalty, redemption, and seizing opportunities.
  • Families can talk about the movie's themes regarding second chances. How do Floyd and Louis help each other? What do they learn on their cross-country adventure? Families can also discuss how the movie handles stereotypes. Are some of the jokes exploitative? If so, why? Is this a fitting end to Mac's comedic legacy?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: There are discussions of race, class, and criminal behavior. A mother tells her daughter she has "shamed her family" by sleeping with a black man. But the real message is about making the most of rare opportunities and putting the past behind you to forge a better future.
What to watch for
  • violence false2 Violence: A character smacks another character in the face; a woman is bruised by her boyfriend; a man accidentally shoots a gun in another man's direction.
  • sex false5 Sex: Love-making scenes include topless women; one woman's buttocks are shown; Viagra, erections, masturbation, and oral sex are discussed.
  • language false4 Language: Strong and frequent: "f--k," "motherf---er," "s--t," "piss," "ass," "a--hole." Characters call other black characters a version of the "N" word.
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Featured products and brands include VH1, Flavor of Love, the Apollo Theater, Cadillac El Dorado, and the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false4 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters drink on several occasions; one man sells pot, but only the money (no drugs) is visible in the exchange.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Dave White

0.5

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...opposite of funny Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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