Malcolm Lee, director of upbeat family fare such as WELCOME HOME ROSCOE JENKINS and ROLL BOUNCE, takes a slightly raunchier tack for his uproarious buddy comedy, SOUL MEN. The late Bernie Mac gives one of his final performances as Floyd Henderson, a retired back-up singer for a ‘60s soul act known as the Real Deal. When the group's lead singer, Marcus Hooks--played by real-life soul singer John Legend--suddenly drops dead, the two remaining members of the group, Henderson and Louis Hinds (Samuel L. Jackson), are enlisted to play a tribute concert at the Apollo Theatre in New York City. Hinds, an ex-convict trying his best to stay out of the limelight, is persuaded by Henderson to drive cross-country for the chance to re-ignite his music career. The classic comedic trope of road-trip antagonism reaches new heights as the pair curse and claw at each other for the entire voyage, taking occasional breaks to stage impromptu roadside rehearsals and other, less PG-rated misadventures. Throughout, Mac's formidable skills at slapstick play against Jackson's no-nonsense, tough guy demeanor--a veneer that, at times, cracks enough to reveal some genuinely tender moments between the two. But SOUL MEN's final, most poignant postscript is a cameo by fallen soul legend Isaac Hayes--who, coincidentally, died the same week as Bernie Mac--casting a bittersweet pall over the film's enjoyably comic shenanigans.
DVD Features:
Keep Case
Widescreen
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Featurette: Bernie Mac At The Apollo
Behind the Scenes: Boogie Ain't Nothin'
Trailers: Theatrical Trailer
Audio Commentary:
1. Malcolm Lee - Director
2. The Soul Men: Bernie Mac & Samuel L. Jackson
3. The Cast Of Soul Men
Distributor Notes: Though it's been some twenty years since they have spoken with one another, two estranged soul-singing legends agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader
Cameo
Isaac Hayes: American Singer/Songwriter
Executive Producer
Bob Weinstein: Prod./Screenwriter/Director
Executive Producer
Harvey Weinstein: Film producer
Executive Producer
Mark McNair: Executive producer
Director of Photography
Matthew F. Leonetti: Director of Photography, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982)
Review 1:
"[Mac and Jackson] appear to be having a ball doing the musical numbers, which are infectious....[The film] manages to hit just enough of the right notes to serve as a respectable coda to Mac's legacy."
Source: Variety
11/03/2008
Review 2:
"SOUL MEN is a raucous, rambling comedy....[T]he soundtrack of well-made soul covers and the cruder music of Mr. Jackson and Mr. Mac's foulmouthed one-upmanship provide a measure of satisfaction."
Source: New York Times
11/07/2008
Review 3:
"SOUL MEN is a chance to salute these masters of mirth and music. Take it."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.101 11/13/2008
Review 4:
"[I]t works surprisingly well. Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac make a winning duo in the bawdy buddy road-trip picture SOUL MEN."
Source: USA Today
11/07/2008
Review 5:
"[T]he laughs build and you realize that Mac is pulling them out of some unseen top hat."
Source: Los Angeles Times
11/07/2008
Review 6:
"[Mac and Jackson] appear to be having a ball doing the musical numbers, which are infectious....[The film] manages to hit enough of the right notes to serve as a respectable coda to Mac's legacy."
Source: Variety
11/03/2008
Review 7:
"This contemporary riff on THE SUNSHINE BOYS generally manages to succeed...thanks to the entertaining performance by Mac and co-star Samuel L. Jackson and its generous doses of raucous humor and sweet soul music."
Source: Hollywood Reporter
11/03/2008