Friday

UPC: 794043131592

Studio: New Line Home Video

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse]

Summary: Hard-core rapper Ice Cube, after appearing in such hard-hitting films as Boyz 'N the Hood and Higher Learning, played his first comic role in this picture he co-wrote with frequent musical collaborator DJ Pooh. Craig (Ice Cube) manages to get fired on his day off (though he claims it's through no fault of his own) and spends the day hanging out with his buddy Smokey (Chris Tucker) and trying to avoid his father (John Witherspoon), who wants him to find another job immediately. Smokey (whose name might have something to do with his tremendous fondness for marijuana) has even more serious problems; he was given $200 worth of weed to sell by Big Worm (Faizon Love), but he ended up smoking it instead, and if he can't come up with the money by the end of the day, he'll be in a world of hurt (and will put Craig in the same place just for being his friend). And Deebo (Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr.), a gargantuan bully who roams the neighborhood on his bicycle, has it in for Craig, while Craig tries his best just to stay out of his way. As one would expect, Friday features a strong hip-hop soundtrack, featuring tracks by such artists as Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, Mack 10, and Funkdoobiest, as well as old-school R&B selections from The Isley Brothers, Roger, and Rose Royce. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Category: Comedy

Features: New featurette Friday: Straight Up (In HD)
Introduction by Ice Cube
Additional scenes
Q&A interviews with director F. Gary Gray and producer Patricia Charbonnet
2 music videos: Ice Cube's Friday and Dr. Dre's Keep Their Heads Ringin'
Theatrical trailers

Friday

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 09/08/2009

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DTHD null, DD-EX Dolby Digital Surround EX (simulated 6.1)

Runtime: 97 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: Spanish

Derek Armstrong

The "hood," so often the setting for dramas about gang violence and racial intolerance, gets a winning comedic makeover in Friday, the surprise hit that launched the film career of comedian Chris Tucker. Tucker's manic torrent of dialogue works well alongside Ice Cube's put-upon exasperation, making for a memorable comic chemistry that carries the pair through a month's worth of shenanigans packed into a single wild day. Tucker may get the belly laughs, but Cube's straight man makes them possible, serving as the viewer's surrogate and a reluctant accomplice to Tucker's tactless trash talking. Cube deserves credit not only for his increasingly subtle acting, but also for a deft screenplay that zeroes in on the false machismo of its characters, while also revealing their underlying good humor. Cube doesn't deny that the threat of an imminent ass-kicking is the prime motivator in this environment, but he suggests that a lot of it is for show, and ultimately, these guys just want to have a good time. Centered around pot smoking, Friday has become a cult favorite among stoners, especially those who subscribe to Smokey's theory that the best way to spend an unprogrammed Friday is to light up a joint. After this confident debut, F. Gary Gray moved away from comedy, directing the crime thrillers Set It Off (1996) and The Negotiator (1998). ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Reynaldo Rey  Actor 
Paula Jai Parker  Actor 
Tony Cox  Actor 
Bernie Mac  Actor 
Kathleen Bradley  Actor 
Regina King  Actor 
Ronn Riser  Actor 
Yvette Wilson  Actor 
Faizon Love  Actor 
LaWanda Page  Actor 
Angela Means  Actor 
Anthony Johnson  Actor 
Vickilyn Reynolds  Actor 
Ice Cube  Executive Producer 
Ice Cube  Screenwriter 
Hidden Faces  Composer (Music Score) 
F. Gary Gray  Director 
Pat Charbonnet  Producer 
Bryan Turner  Executive Producer 
DJ Pooh  Screenwriter 
Ice Cube  Actor 
Chris Tucker  Actor 
Nia Long  Actor 
Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr.  Actor 
John Witherspoon  Actor 
Anna Maria Horsford  Actor 

Country: USA