The Village Barbershop - Movie Review

Every once in a while I stumble upon an overlooked gem. It is films like The Village Barbershop that I enjoy reviewing the most. It gives me an opportunity to share my enjoyment of a film that most people may never have heard of otherwise.

Art Leroldi (John Ratzenberger) is stuck in a rut. He has been stuck in the same routine since his wife died eleven years ago. When Art's business partner dies, he is left in bad shape. Aside from upsetting his routine, Art was never much of a book-keeper. With the landlord threatening to evict Art's barbershop, an increasing gambling problem, neighbors who steal his electricity and heavy drinking, Art is headed down the path of destruction. His bills are mounting faster than he can pay them.

As a last ditch effort, Art advertises in the Classified ads for a new business partner. A string of nutcases show up to apply for the job. When Gloria (Shelly Cole) shows up to interview for the job, Art dismisses her. It is a male barbershop with male barbers and male customers. Unable to take "no" for an answer, Gloria inserts herself into Art's business and ultimately into his life. The two share an odd friendship where they mutually assist one another. Although faced with a variety of obstacles, both manage to find a happy ending.

The Village Barbershop is a feel-good independent comedy. I like Indie films, but many have a tendency to intentionally avoid cliche by settling for unhappy endings. That can be refreshing, but it is always nice to see an Indie film with a happy ending that leaves you feeling resolved at the end. The Village Barbershop balances tender dramatic elements with incredibly witty dialogue and characters that become part of your family. Art is so incredibly dry and stoic that his subtle humor is charming. Gloria has an incredible outlook on life and seems to use her troubles to drive her forward. The chemistry between the characters flowed smoothly. The unlikely pair form a credible relationship that remains within boundaries that can be believed. Writer Chris J. Ford also directed The Village Barbershop. His screenplay was an exceptional foundation for the film.

The Village Barbershop was not without faults. It is brooding at times. The cinematography captures the moods exceptionally well but does linger at times. Because the film itself was so original, having a happy ending was far from cliche. However, one of the final scenes made the ending too perfect. The scene involved Art's pothead neighbor and just didn't fit with the overall feel of the film. It didn't detract greatly from the ending but was silly and unnecessary.

One of the qualities that surprised me most in The Village Barbershop was Ratzenberger's performance. When you star in a sitcom as long-running and popular as Cheers, it is hard to break the mold of the character you portrayed. Ratzenberger was incredible. His performance was strong enough to distance his character from any type-casting you might expect. His chemistry with Cole was fatherly and warm. Cole is not a drop-dead gorgeous actress that can get by with just a smile. She is cute, but she has a vibrancy that she brings to her character that makes her amazingly attractive. Her performance was not all about appearance though. It was about hardship, dignity, drive and perseverance. Cole brought those qualities to her character with conviction. The Village Barbershop delivers strong performances to complement the great writing.

The Village Barbershop was oddly given an R rating from the MPAA. There was one scene in a nightclub that showed some exotic dancers without showing any nudity. The synopsis claims there is nudity and that is mirrored on some of the movie websites. However, I do not recall any actual nudity in the film. There were some adult themes, an out of wedlock pregnancy, gambling, drugs and plenty of drinking. Overall, the themes were mature but not restrictive. Teenagers can certainly handle the material in this film and maybe even a bit younger. I would let my eleven year old see it. Run time is one hour, 39 minutes.

The Village Barbershop is a refreshing independent comedy with the happily ever after. The dialogue, characters and plot are all carefully constructed. The performances enhanced the excellent writing qualities. The cinematography framed the action and help tell the story even though the mood seems to brood a bit too much at times. The ending was rewarding, but just a bit overdone. Aside from the small issues I had with The Village Barbershop, the originality and polished look make it easy for me to highly recommend it. 7.5/10.

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