You come into the room and see the New Line Cinema title card gracing the television screen. There’s no theme like before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or a horror movie, but in its place remains a voice over instead. You know the voice, you know the quote, and you know the movie.
“I know ya don’t smoke weed, I know this. But I’m gonna get you high today ‘cause it’s Friday, you ain’t got no job, and you ain’t got s—- to do.”
The movie hasn’t even officially started yet, and Chris Tucker has hit you with the first of many of the film’s memorable quotes which range from “Bye, Felicia.” To “You got knocked the f—- out!”
It’s 1995’s comedy Friday. Directed by F. Gary Gray and written by DJ Pooh and Ice Cube, who also stars in the film next to Chris Tucker. The movie is easily one of the most recommendable R rated, feel good, comedies out there. The audience follows Craig (Ice Cube) and his friend Smokey (Christ Tucker) while they try to make it to the weekend as they bounce from situation to situation in a “Clerks meets Boyz N The Hood” fashion. Fans of the R rated comedy will find familiar faces among the crowd such as Tony Cox, Bernie Mac, and John Witherspoon. Everyone brings their own addition to the film, which allows it to culminate into something seemingly organic. No moment feels forced or unnatural. The movie marches on, keeping you grinning, laughing, and feeling fulfilled by the time it all wraps up.
Friday was filmed in F. Gary Gray’s childhood neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Using houses his friends lived in for central locations, and his own childhood home as the backdrop for an iconic scene where the local bully, Deebo, punches someone so hard it sends them through the air and out of his driveway. The neighborhood itself is immortalized in the movie, which serves as a time capsule from an era when weed was still illegal and none of the rap music seemed to give a damn. Speaking of music, the soundtrack does Nostalgia’s heavy lifting with the likes of The Isley Brothers, Cypress Hill, James Brown and Zapp. The entire atmosphere Friday brings to the table screams “1995” in all the best ways.
While the story mostly centers around Craig and Smokey attempting to enjoy a Friday, the most pressing element is Deebo. Played by Tom Lister Jr. (Tiny ‘Zues’ Lister Jr. In the credits), Deebo is imposing on all fronts. The neighborhood bully is a grown man who goes around “borrowing” bikes with no intention of returning them, and snatching gold chains off anyone willing to get too close. Deebo crosses a line in the final act when he strikes a woman for mistakingly thinking she stole from him. This isn’t the only serious tone brought to Friday. The film also speaks on gun violence, with a minor subplot involving Craig seeking to use a handgun for self-defense from, not only Deebo, but a local gang known for doing drive by shootings.
All of these elements, both good and bad, are a part of LA’s history. Friday finds a way to wrap it all together without it being too outrageous or over-the-top. Think King of the Hill in terms of grounded comedy. Just swap out the sun burnt Texans for a black neighborhood and you have the right expectations. Take out the hangout spot in the alley, and replace it with a porch. This movie hits every note that would make Mike Judge smile from ear to ear.
No stone is left unturned in Friday. The neighborhood sees it all, from failed romance to a crooked pastor. The movie is packed with quotable characters, memorable moments, and a dash of gross-out humor. Nothing ever goes too far in any direction, keeping the film relatively tame for its R rating. Viewers can expect mild violence, vulgar language, and on screen drug use. Nothing that doesn’t make for an eventful start to one’s weekend, and Friday makes the most of it.
While a beacon of 1995 LA culture, the movie itself remains timeless. I was only 7 when the film came out, and as a white child I wasn’t exactly the film’s demographic. But when I reached middle school and all of the kids were looking for the next “adult thing” to share with their friends, Friday was chief among them. I still remember seeing it for the first time at a sleep over and, from there, catching it in all of it’s butchered, edited-for-TV, glory throughout my high-school years. When I started to collect movies, I didn’t hesitate to add Friday to my comedy line up. It’s always there for a good laugh, and will continue to be there long into the future.
Friday didn’t stop with just one movie. Fans of the original can look forward to it’s sequels Next Friday, and Friday After Next after they’ve decided the first film was worth visiting. A fourth film is currently in development limbo, but Ice Cube remains adamant that it’s still in the works. In an era of legacy films, a “Final Friday” could be just the send off this franchise needs. Until then, sequels or not, the original Friday can stand proud as one of the most iconic black comedies to ever grace the silver screen.