Friday (1995)

Director:

F. Gary Gray

Writers (WGA):

Ice Cube (written by) &
DJ Pooh (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

a lot can go down between thursday and saturday...

Plot:

Craig and Smokey are two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking...

Plot Keywords:

Drug Dealer | Machismo | Knocked Unconscious | South Central Los Angeles | Drive By Shooting

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Ice Cube	...	Craig Jones
Chris Tucker	...	Smokey
Nia Long	...	Debbie
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	Deebo (as Tiny 'Zeus' Lister Jr.)
John Witherspoon	...	Mr. Jones
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Mrs. Jones
Regina King	...	Dana Jones
Paula Jai Parker	...	Joi
Faizon Love	...	Big Worm
DJ Pooh	...	Red
Angela Means	...	Felisha
Vickilyn Reynolds	...	Joann
Ronn Riser	...	Stanley
Kathleen Bradley	...	Mrs. Parker
Tony Cox	...	Mr. Parker

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive strong language and drug use, and for a brutal fight. (also director's cut)

Runtime:

91 min | 97 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #33452) | New Zealand:R16 | USA:R (certificate #45391) (director's cut) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

126th Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Mr. Jones, a dogcatcher by trade, watches Man's Best Friend (1993), a movie about a genetically engineered dog that becomes homicidal.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Smokey and Craig are hiding in the back of the pickup truck after the drive-by, the light of the camera is reflected on the van, and in the window of a neighboring house

Quotes:

Smokey's mom: Smokey, get me some cigarettes.
Smokey: Well, give me some money.
[Smokey's mom gives Smokey a dollar]
Smokey: Wait, this isn't enough.
Smokey's mom: Make it enough.

Movie Connections:

References The Breakfast Club (1985)

Soundtrack:

I Wanna Get Next to You

I still pop this baby in the VCR

Eleven years ago (one year before this movie debuted), if you'd have told me you can get an entire movie from two guys sitting on their porch on a hot Friday afternoon, I'd have said you were nuts.

I first saw this movie on a date with my girlfriend as a teenager way back in 1995 (it's hard to believe that was 10 years ago, I laughed through it then and I laugh through it now.

It's also the movie that made me a Chris Tucker mark.

I see everything that guy is in.

The same goes for Cube.

I love this movie's ability to show that ghettos aren't all like the 'Good Times' TV series.

This movie keeps it's lightheartedness throughout especially with funny characters to support Cube and Tucker like DJ Pooh, A.J. Johnson and Tiny Lister.

It also doesn't hurt to have Nia Long with her fine self in it either.

But as I stated this movie is very lighthearted and doesn't begin to get serious at all until the end where Craig tears Smokey a new one for getting him involved in the mess, Big Worm's assassination attempt on Craig and Smokey and Craig coming to the aid of Debbie (Nia) when D-bo (Lister) is beating her up.

It's at those two points you almost forget this is supposed to be a comedy movie.

The most important message in this movie actually came from Johnny Witherspoon who portrayed Craig's father.

He gave his son some very fatherly advise...which I hope to follow with my own son one day.

Although I can't say I'd have been that calm if I walked into my son's room and saw him holding a semi-aotumatic 9mm pistol.

But I did like his advice....as I believe it was meant to be a message to the audience.

"You kids today are nothing but punks, so quick to pick up a gun. You scared to take an ass-whipping!" (referring to his fists) "These are all the protection you need. You win some, you lose some, but you live!"