About the film (courtesy of Warner Bros.):
JJ, aka John Shaft Jr. (Usher), may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.

It’s hard to believe that the Shaft franchise has been around for almost half a century. It all started in 1971 when an unknown actor by the name of Richard Roundtree brought author Ernest Tidyman’s novel to motion picture life. Beloved for decades, John Shaft’s legendary status only grew. In 2019, hopeful fans will be treated to three generations of the legendary gene pool of one of the coolest detectives in the game. With Samuel L. Jackson being introduced as John Shaft as the middle generation in 2000, a new attitude was born. This time around John (Jackson) is put in the very unfamiliar role of father figure…and it’s hilarious.

Shaft is another of the action comedies that has been all of the rage in recent years. From that perspective, this movie does not disappoint. Director Tim Story (Ride Along franchise) has great familiarity with these types of films so it’s easy to see why he is in his comfort zone. With Warner Bros. allowing a stronger, more mature R-rating, moviegoers are treated to a very entertaining couple of hours because they allow Samuel L. Jackson to be Samuel L. Jackson! Had they opted for a watered down PG-13, I probably would have been far less inclined to recommend this feature. Fear not as I have no such reservations.

Samuel L. Jackson is great and is exactly what you’d expect him to be for this role. Jessie T. Usher as JJ Shaft is a shrewd casting that pays off. Usher totally embodies that of the modern day millennial and is the perfect change of pace type of character that Shaft needs to stay strong, yet relevant. And bringing back the OG, Richard Roundtree, just brings class and validation to this story that is truly about family.

I’ll be honest, there was so much laughter throughout that I feel that I missed some important elements of the movie. This is a good thing but I feel like I need to watch it again to go back and see what was missed. The chemistry is great, the story is solid (thanks in part to ABC’s Blackish creator, Kenya Barris who serves as one of this movie’s writers) and the comedy is smoothly delivered. Shaft isn’t for everyone but the ones that like these types of movies should absolutely feel like they’ve gotten their dollar’s worth. Do yourself a solid and check this out in theaters now.