Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)

We're back at Calvin’s with its collection of misfits and regulars getting haircuts when some of them have no visible hair to cut. There’s a ladies salon next door to provide a contrast and better highlight how unique and important the shop environment is. That’s in place because an upmarket barbershop is taking up residence across the street, threatening Calvin’s livelihood.
I enjoyed the flashbacks to Calvin Senior's era. But other than repeating what was established in the first film there's really only a clichéd struggle against a competitor, the big-business soulless machine, to carry the present story forward. The out of work hours segments should've deepened the characters. Instead, it felt like filler for more than half of them. It's not a bad film, I liked it, but it lacked the weight of conscience that bolstered the first one.

2½ free chairs out of 5