SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: NEXT DAY AIR

"NEXT DAY AIR"
(2009) (Donald Faison, Mike Epps) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Extreme	Heavy	Extreme	*Moderate	Extreme

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Heavy	None	Mild	*None	Extreme

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Moderate	Minor	Heavy	Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: When a stoned deliveryman drops off a package of cocaine at the wrong apartment, that sets off a sequence of unexpected events as the recipients try to sell the drugs for quick cash.

PLOT:

Brody (MIKE EPPS) and Guch (WOOD HARRIS) are roommates and two-bit criminals who are fairly inept at their chosen profession, having recently botched a bank robbery with their friend Hassie (MALIK BARNHARDT) who's now crashing at their Philly apartment. Things look up, however, when stoned deliveryman Leo (DONALD FAISON) -- under pressure from his boss/mom to perform better like his coworker, Eric (MOS DEF) -- delivers a package to them that's actually addressed to the couple across the hall, Jesus (CISCO REYES) and his girlfriend Chita (YASMIN DELIZ).

Jesus is a low level drug dealer working for Bodega (EMILIO RIVERA), and is anxiously awaiting the shipment of ten bricks of cocaine, knowing full well the potential wrath of the drug kingpin and his right-hand man, Rhino (LOBO SEBASTIAN), should anything go wrong.

For Brody and Guch, the unexpected delivery is a like a gift from Heaven. Realizing the cash potential of their new possession, Brody calls his drug dealer cousin, Shavoo (OMARI HARDWICK), to see if he's interested in buying that. Arriving with his right-hand man, known only as "Buddy" (DARIUS McCRARY), Shavoo agrees to return in two hours with a satchel of money to complete the transaction.

But things quickly become complicated when he learns someone his stolen his stash of cash, while Bodega isn't happy to hear that Jesus apparently doesn't have the shipment. With the latter figuring Leo must have stolen it, he and Chita set out to find him and the drugs, all of which sets the stage for a big showdown at the end.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of anyone in the cast, they might be interested. Otherwise, this likely has only limited appeal.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For pervasive language, drug content, some violence and brief sexuality.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: Considering what occurs in the film (criminal behavior, drug use, theft, profanity, murder, etc.), it's unlikely many, if any, parents would consider any of the major characters as good role models for kids.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated comedy. Profanity consists of at least 193 "f" words, while many other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue (much of it explicit) is present, as is the sight of some hookers or strippers cavorting for the entertainment of some men, including making out and disrobing (bare breasts).

Violence involves a big shootout and fight where many people are killed or wounded (mostly gunfire but knives are also used), the beating and roughing up of others in various scenes (including using a cigar to burn someone's face), and the barely off-screen cutting out of a man's tongue (we see it being held).

That violence has bloody results, and it's possible those scenes could be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers, but not all of them are always played realistically. Some of the action and other behavior might be enticing for some kids to imitate, while all sorts of bad attitudes are present.

Drug use (pot, cocaine) occurs, while the possession and attempted sale of coke drives the main plot. Drinking is also present, as is some smoking, while there are a few instances of crude humor.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of handheld camerawork in the film.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Leo's ex-girlfriend complains that he smells like weed, and he states that his boss said someone filed a complaint about that while he was on the job. We then hear that boss basically repeat the same thing.
Leo smokes a joint while working (and driving).
Brody and Guch share a joint.
Jesus drinks while nervously awaiting his package to be delivered. We then see a few additional views of him drinking more.
Leo delivers Jesus' package to Brody and Guch by accident, and the latter two are excited upon the discovery that it's ten "bricks" of cocaine. Guch tastes that to confirm it's what it appears to be, as does Brody.
We see a flashback to Brody entering his cousin's apartment where coke is being processed, and there's related dust in the air, while a woman there snorts some coke.
Leo smokes a joint and then shares that with Eric.
Upon arriving at the guys' place with Shavoo, Buddy asks if they have any beer.
Leo states that all he needs is his weed and to "smoke a J" (joint).
Leo buys some pot from a dealer on the street.
As some sort of prayerful ceremony, Chita takes a swig of liquor and then spit-sprays it out into the air.
Guch comments about not wanting to be caught with a brick (of cocaine) in one hand and his "d*ck" in the other.
Guch smokes a joint.
When pressured to remember where exactly he dropped off the drug shipment, Leo states, "I was high as hell yesterday."

BLOOD/GORE: We see a bloodied but alive man inside a car's trunk (the injuries presumably courtesy of Rhino).
Hassie farts while sleeping.
We see a flashback to Brody punching a bound and gagged man in the face, bloodying him. When that man manages to bite him, Brody then takes a knife to the man's face. We hear the sound of that and screaming, but don't see the actual cutting, although we then see Brody holding up what appears to be the man's tongue that he's cut off/out.
Brody jokes that he had "to take a sh*t."
About seeing how ruthless Bodega could be in the past, Jesus states, "I almost sh*t on myself."
We see a flashback to Bodega with a lit cigar that he uses to burn a bound man's head (there are other such burn marks on his head/face).
We see a storage center employee whose face and shirt are bloody from Buddy having hit him (not seen).
Leo has a bloody lip after Jesus repeatedly punches him.
Various people are bloody to varying degrees during and after a big gun battle in an apartment.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: Some viewers may be offended by the offensive portrayal of various minorities in the film.
All of the criminals (drug kingpins, dealers and such) have bad attitudes, especially when their drugs end up missing, while Brody and Guch try to profit from cocaine accidentally delivered to their apartment.
We see a flashback to Brody, Guch and Hassie robbing a bank at gunpoint (handguns and a machine gun), but hear that they only stole the surveillance tapes (due to Brody misunderstanding Guch's command). Later, one of the bank robbers refers to an overweight guard who chased after them as a "fat bastard."
Leo throws around various packages that he's supposed to deliver.
Leo smokes a joint while working (and driving).
Despite them being a couple of some sort of standing, Jesus has a demeaning attitude toward Chita.
Various characters refer to women as "bitches."
Jesus spits into the eggs Chita is preparing, prompting her to throw them to the wall in anger.
About their newfound coke, Brody says that will buy them some "bitches."
Eric steals an expensive watch from a package he's supposed to deliver, and we later see he also stole a (fake) gold chain that he now wears.
Leo tries hitting on two women (from his delivery truck) and when they don't respond, he tells them he thought they were hookers. One replies if they were, he couldn't afford them, prompting him to say something callous about their "flat asses."
Shavoo learns that someone stole his large stash of cash from a storage unit.
While Leo buys some pot from a dealer on the street, some other men raid his delivery truck and steal some packages.
Bodega calls Rhino away from a cockfight he was about to watch (we see the gamecocks being prepped, but no actual fighting).

FRIGHTENING SCENES: Scenes listed under "Violence," "Blood/Gore" and "Jump Scenes" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material.
We see a flashback to Brody punching a bound and gagged man in the face, bloodying him. When that man manages to bite him, Brody then takes a knife to the man's face. We hear the sound of that and screaming, but don't see the actual cutting, although we then see Brody holding up what appears to be the man's tongue that he's cut off/out.

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handguns/Shotguns/Machine guns/Knives/: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details.
We hear the sound of gunshots as a character laments how he got himself into a bad situation.
We see some armed guards outside of Bodega's compound.
Brody and Guch play a first-person shooter video game.
We see Guch readying his handgun that's later tucked into the back of his pants.
Guch offers Shavoo his switchblade to taste their coke.
Jesus practices holding handguns and a shotgun in the mirror.
We see Guch prepping and hiding various guns while waiting for Shavoo and Buddy to show up to complete their drug transaction.
After surviving a gun battle, Leo encounters Chita and aims a shotgun at her (so that he can escape) and then acts menacingly toward a couple when they encounter him in the hallway.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Considering the rapid fire, profanity-laced dialogue, the following should be considered a bare minimum: Phrases: "What the f*ck am I doing here?" "Shut the f*ck up," "F*ck, man," "What the f*ck /is this?" "You think I give a f*ck?" "F*cked up," "(Heavy ass/Stupid) M*therf*cker," "Can't f*ck with me," "F*ck you (asshole)," "F*ck that," "Is that f*cking funny?" "F*ck this job," "I'm always down to f*ck some hotties," "I don't give a f*ck," "Stop f*cking around," "F*ck them," "You're f*cking crazy," "Calm the f*ck down," "F*ck is you doing?" "Too f*cking long," "Turn the f*ck around," "F*ck is wrong with you?" "F*ck he say?" "I will f*ck him up," "F*ck all that," "F*cked up," "F*cking d*ckhead," "F*ck that sh*t," "You f*cking cockroach," "Don't say sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "This is some bullsh*t," "What kind of sh*t is that?" "Had to take a sh*t," "Some good sh*t," "Stop bullsh*tting," "Jesus sh*t," "Sh*t, yeah," "Where's my sh*t?" "I almost sh*t myself," "Piece of sh*t," "Hell yeah," "Idiots," "Fat bastard," "Bitch" (used for women, men, things and as a verb), "Now, G*damnit," "I'm about to fire your ass," "Sit your sorry ass down," "Tight ass," "Move your ass, boy," "The hell you doing?" "I'll be damned," "Scrotum face," "My bad," "Punk ass," "Dirty ass," "Balls" (testicles), "Hell no," "You stupid bitch," "Flat asses," "Smoke a J" (joint), what sounded like "Nigger" (said by a black character), "Punk ass," "Shut up," "Let's get the hell out of here," "You're a bitch-ass liar," "I was high as hell yesterday" and "Stupid ass."
We see a flashback to Brody, Guch and Hassie robbing a bank at gunpoint (handguns and a machine gun), but hear that they only stole the surveillance tapes (due to Brody misunderstanding Guch's command).
All of the drug use, attempted dealing of drugs, and related violence might be enticing for some kids to imitate.
Jesus spits into the eggs Chita is preparing, prompting her to throw them to the wall in anger.
Shavoo has various tattoos.
Chita has a pierced nostril.
Miscellaneous characters have tattoos.
While Leo buys some pot from a dealer on the street, some other men raid his delivery truck and steal some packages.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A mild amount of suspenseful/ominous music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A song had non-English lyrics and thus may contain something objectionable, while it's possible the songs that play during the closing credits may also contain objectionable material (we didn't stick around as the point was already moot by then regarding extreme profanity in the film).

PROFANITY: Considering the rapid fire, profanity-laced dialogue, the following should be considered a bare minimum. At least 193 "f" words (48 used with "mother," 7 used sexually), 121 "s" words, 3 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck" and "d*ck-head"), 1 using female ones ("p*ssy"), 1 possible one for breasts ("t*tty"), 34 asses (2 used with "hole"), 14 damns, 13 hells, 1 S.O.B., 4 uses of "Swear to God," 3 of "G-damn," 2 of "Oh my God" and 1 use each of "God," "My God" and "Swear to Jesus."

SEX/NUDITY: Considering the rapid fire, profanity-laced dialogue, the following should be considered a bare minimum.
Leo's ex-girlfriend shows some cleavage, and is upset when Leo asks her (about another guy), "Are you f*cking him?" She replies, "Don't worry about who I'm f*cking," with him then saying they've only been broken up for a week.
We see Hassie with his hand down the front of his pants while he sleeps. When he gets up to answer the door, he then uses that hand to scratch down inside his pants.
Jesus kisses on Chita's neck and then briefly on her lips.
About their newfound coke, Brody says that will buy them some "bitches."
A miscellaneous woman shows some cleavage.
Brody and Shavoo (who's shirtless in bed) use sexually-based code to discuss drugs over the phone, substituting "bitches" for the coke, and there are several sexual uses of the "f" word in that. Later, Shavoo and Buddy chat about that, with the latter not realizing the code and stating, "I'm always down to f*ck some bitches."
About an unseen woman, Eric says he shouldn't have "f*cked her," but adds that the "p*ssy" was good.
Leo tries hitting on two women (from his delivery truck) and when they don't respond, he tells them he thought they were hookers. One replies if they were, he couldn't afford them, prompting him to say something callous about their "flat asses."
With their pending newfound wealth, Brody states they'll call a freak (woman), bust some "nuts," what sounded like "spin her and go in her," and that she'll "do something strange for a little change." Later, two scantly clad hookers/strippers show up (we see a rear view that shows the bottom of their bare butts in very short skirts or shorts), and there's a quick series of shots of them cavorting, first dressed, and then partially undressed (we see one's bare breasts) and they also kiss for the men's entertainment. During this, we see Brody with his hand down inside his pants while watching them.
We see a miscellaneous shirtless man.
Chita shows some cleavage.
We see Chita in a small nightie when she gets up from bed.
Guch comments about not wanting to be caught with a brick (of cocaine) in one hand and his "d*ck" in the other.
Chita shows cleavage.

SMOKING: Bodega smokes cigars several times, while Brody, Guch and Chita (cigar) each smoke at least once.
We see a flashback to Bodega with a lit cigar that he uses to burn a bound man's head (there are other such burn marks on his head/face).

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: There's a little comedy based family tension between Leo and his mom, who's also his boss and not happy with his job performance (she threatens to fire him if he doesn't improve).
After Brody asks about her, Shavoo says that his mom died last year.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Drug use and drug dealing.
Trying to profit from something that isn't yours.
The offensive stereotypes regarding certain minority groups in the film, and the misogyny on display.

VIOLENCE: We see a bloodied but alive man inside a car's trunk (the injuries presumably courtesy of Rhino).
We see a flashback to Brody, Guch and Hassie robbing a bank at gunpoint (handguns and a machine gun), but hear that they only stole the surveillance tapes (due to Brody misunderstanding Guch's command). They then flee, only to have the armed guard from the bank then repeatedly shoot at them with his handgun.
We see a flashback to Brody punching a bound and gagged man in the face, bloodying him. When that man manages to bite him, Brody then takes a knife to the man's face. We hear the sound of that and screaming, but don't see the actual cutting, although we then see Brody holding up what appears to be the man's tongue that he's cut off/out.
Shavoo aims his gun at a storage center employee's head.
We see a flashback to Bodega with a lit cigar that he uses to burn a bound man's head (there are other such burn marks on his head/face). Rhino then hits that bound man, followed by the sound of him or Bodega shooting that man (not seen).
Jesus holds a gun on Eric, followed by Chita slapping Eric.
Shavoo aims his handgun at a storage center clerk who he knows has stolen from him.
We see a storage center employee whose face and shirt are bloody from Buddy having hit him (not seen).
Rhino grabs Jesus by the throat and pushes him back, followed by Bodega holding a gun on Jesus.
Bodega, Rhino and Jesus hold their guns on Leo, followed by Jesus pummeling him. Chita then slaps Leo, followed by Jesus punching him again, leaving him with a bloody lip.
As Brody and Guch are counting their money and Shavoo and Buddy have their drugs, Jesus, Bodega, Rhino and Chita arrive at the door. After some small talk, Bodega pushes Leo into Brody at the door and the rest enter, resulting in a gun standoff. One of them then opens fire, resulting in a gun battle (handguns, shotguns, machine guns) where most everyone is shot and killed (all seen in one-by-one instances). That includes them being shot in various parts of the body, Brody firing a machine gun at Bodega but missing, and Rhino and Buddy fighting with knives. Rhino smashes Buddy into the fridge, stabs a knife into his leg, and then slowly pushes it into his neck. He then goes over to slice the neck of the badly wounded Shavoo, but someone else shoots Rhino dead. All of that has varying degrees of bloody results, but there are a few survivors.

Reviewed May 5, 2009 / Posted May 8, 2009

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