Review: Shaft (2019)

Nineteen years after the last Shaft film, also starring Samuel L. Jackson, we get another chapter in the same story line with Shaft (2019). And as most people, when they see a title that is exactly the same as previous ones, would guess that this film is a reboot or re-imaging. Which is usually correct, but not the case this time. Story and time-wise, this film bookends the previous Shaft (2000) film. Confused yet?

Titles aside, the story follows John Shaft (Samuel L Jackson) as the down and dirty private eye that was too bad for a badge. This time though, the sphere of his personal world opens up as we meet Shaft’s wife Maya (Regina Hall) and child John Shaft Jr. Being who he is, and living a dangerous life, he eventually loses his family to his vendettas.
*For those following at home, this happens pre-Shaft (2000).

Fast forward to the present as we meet the adult John Shaft Jr. (Jessie T Usher), a somewhat nerdy FBI Analyst with very little, to no game. Pulled out from behind his comfy cubicle, he finds himself on the streets of Harlem searching for answers to why his friend died. Quickly seeing that “The Streets” are not playing to his strengths, he decides to visit and hopefully enlist the help of his estranged father to help him navigate the underbelly of New York. Armed with computer skills and a gung-ho partner in his father, he works to find the real truth, no matter where it leads.

Those of you that watched the commercial or trailer, you might think this is an action movie, which it has much of. But to truly sit in this film and try to enjoy if from start to finish, the proper way to view it, is as a comedy. This, I found out, about forty percent into the film. Also, anyone with true love for Shaft and the films of the past starring Richard Roundtree should understand a very important fact. This movie was written to be everything we imagine Samuel L Jackson to be, from his mannerisms and speech, to past roles. He wears the mantle of John Shaft, but not to the exclusion of his own persona.

As for enjoyment, there are definitely some crazy and fun moments, usually vulgar in nature. Though the film definitely had its own ups and downs. Jackson’s role to be the spotlight in this film, while Usher mainly played the straight-man, with prodding jokes lobbed his way on-the-regular. And that, is really where you should decide on viewing this film, or not. Do you want to watch a Samuel L. Jackson movie with his personality expanded to the extreme, with a loose Shaft film, that really is a parody of itself? If the answer is yes, then this is the dirty-mouthed sexual-atmosphere laden action-comedy for you.

Grade: C
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 1hr 51m