Obviously, no one expected Malcolm Lee’s Soul Men to be Bernie Mac’s swan song, and while there are far worse ways to be remembered, this amiable
feature is far from the comedian’s finest hour. The film’s an odd mixture of elements, as its crudity undercuts the sincerity its two
stars invest in this tale of friendship while also serving as a tribute to the
soul sound of the late ’60s and early ’70s. It’s an entertaining concoction at times, thanks to the chemistry of Mac and Samuel
L. Jackson, who deserve far better than what this patchy script has to offer.
The death of music legend Marcus Hooks (John Legend) suddenly puts his former
backup singers, The Real Deal, back in the spotlight. While Floyd (Mac)
welcomes the opportunity to escapes his suffocating retirement, his former
partner Louis (Jackson) is less than thrilled by the attention. However, the
promise of a big paycheck at a tribute concert for Hooks in New York City
convinces the curmudgeons to head cross country on a road trip, replete with
many adventures, among them being reunited with Cleo (Sharon Leal), who may be
a daughter to one of them.
Jackson and Mac are troupers throughout, making this mundane material bearable
thanks to their antagonistic give and take which is grounded in mutual respect.
When these two are on the screen alone, the film is genuinely entertaining and
interesting. It’s when the supporting cast wants to horn in on their act that the film jumps the
tracks, as writers Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone rely on tired stereotypes,
tasteless gags and ridiculous circumstances to pad their script. A touching
tribute at film’s end features documentary footage showing Mac speaking of his joy in
performing, a quality that’s evident in Soul Men. He will be missed, albeit because of far better films than this.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.
