Soul Men

Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson star as Floyd Henderson and Louis Hinds – former music legends known as The Real Deal. They grew up in Memphis and became a world famous doo wop group with a childhood friend, Marcus Hooks (John Legend), until he ditched them to start his own, more legendary solo career. While Floyd and Louis haven’t spoken in 20 years, Floyd wants them to reunite for a special performance at the Apollo Theater honoring Marcus. Of course, Louis is not as excited by the idea.

Can the two put aside old differences for one more shot at glory?

Will they make it to the Apollo after trying to drive across country to get there?

Soul Men is another one of those movies that should have stayed the course with the comedy, instead of steering into the iceberg known as drama. Writers Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone know how to put Floyd and Louis in silly, funny situations that best utilize both Jackson’s and Mac’s talents.

Yet, a bunch of sappy stuff is tossed in halfway through which only muddles the story and destroys the tone. Soul Men becomes awkward, especially when a subplot about some gansta wannabes is thrown in. The lighthearted road trip movie becomes more of a Tyler Perry morality play (but, I’m glad Bernie Mac didn’t put on a dress).

Another problem with Soul Men is the need for Ramsey, Stone and director Malcolm D. Lee to inject potty humor and more ribald material when we don’t need it. Jackson and Mac are a good team, almost like the Odd Couple, who make us laugh at the material dedicated to the differences between them, the spats they have and how age has changed them and how they approach life.

Soul Men is funny, and Bernie Mac fans will be happy to see a good performance from the late comedian, but it just misses being a movie you must see in theaters as soon as possible.

Soul Men is rated R for pervasive language, and sexual content including nudity.