Review of SHAFT – Rated R – 1 hr. 51 mins. 

This review is brought to you by Kathy Kaiser 

SHAFT – Rated R – 1 hr. 51 mins. 

DIRECTOR:  Tim Story 

WRITER:  Kenya Barris, Alex Barnow 

STARRING:  Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Richard Roundtree and Regina Hall

Welcome to #5 – as in the 5^th Installment for SHAFT, and this time we get to meet John Shaft Jr., a.k.a. JJ (Jessie T. Usher), who is working in cyber security for the FBI, when his close friend and confidant Karim (Avan Jogia) dies unexpectedly.  Determined to find out who killed his best friend, it seems that JJ is has no choice but to enlist the help of his estranged father SHAFT (Samuel L. Jackson), to help him decipher what really happened to his friend, and to make those who took his friends life, pay…

I give SHAFT a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM WHEN IT HITS ON DVD!  Samuel L. Jackson is about to swagger his way right back into your heart, as rerising this role, and this character, seems to be as comfortable as putting on an old pair of shoes.  And adding to the fun this time around is the addition of his son JJ – played by Jessie T. Usher, who is also perfectly cast, as he manages to totally go toe-to-toe with his absentee father, every step of the way!  And when you add in the addition of JJ’s mom, played by the beautiful and very talented Regina Hall, plus 71’s Original Shaft Alum, Richard Roundtree, you can’t help but to thoroughly enjoy this film more and more, with each passing frame!   I was also pleasantly surprised by the comedic content displayed all throughout this film as it brings an element of enjoyment throughout, that I was totally not expecting.  Suffice to say that if you love Jackson, you have to see him ~ in all his glory ~ reprising this role at a theater near you this weekend.  But even if you’re thinking that you’re not up for this SHAFT Reunion at the theater, then I must share that SHAFT is one of those films that is definitely worth catching once it hits on DVD in a few weeks, as it action packed persona, and comedic attributes make for one very entertaining joy ride, no matter how you view it!