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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Drama Director: Chris J. Ford |
Art Leroldi (John Ratzenberger) is the local barber, donning his wedding ring every morning. He is a creature of habit; every day is the
same as the last and he has is mind set on the way that things need to be run. While driving his classic Ford Mustang to work one day
he sees a body being loaded into an ambulance. He finds out that the man covered on the gurney is his business partner, and the
book keeper of the small barbershop that he works at, the last piece of his life that still has structure. What Art doesn’t know is that his
routine is about to make a dramatic change in the new film, “The Village Barbershop.”
In another part of the city, Gloria MacIntyre just found out that she is pregnant. Living with her often absent trucker boyfriend in a very
small trailer, Gloria isn’t sure how she is going to make it. Her situation becomes even more troubling when her boyfriend returns
home from a job to information Gloria that he has met someone else and he is going to marry this new girl. This sends Gloria’s life
into a tailspin.
While watching the film viewers will see exactly where the story is going, and that is exactly where the film is headed. As fate has it, the
lives of Art and Gloria are brought together when Art needs a new barber and Gloria is looking for a job. The two struggle with the
different peculiarities of each other while trying to find their way through life without disturbing the other’s life. Both Art and Gloria prove
to be good people that are faced with a multitude of difficult choices to make.
Writer and Director Chris Ford has given audiences a narrative that is filled with awkward moments, such as when Art carries a bag of
groceries into the local strip club where he discovers one of his deceased wife’s friends, a fifty plus year old topless waitress. Art looks
her straight in the eyes through their entire conversation, keeping his gaze locked above shoulder height. The dry humor of the scene
comes when she suggests that they should have a drink and John Ratzenberger’s character throws a quip asking her if she would be
able to cover up before they get the drink. It is a bit of a tender moment that, despite the adult location, feels very innocent and
harmless. It helps that Ratzenberger’s expression is perfect for the situation; he really shows just how uncomfortable Art is with the
whole situation.
The actors are so genuine that they create characters that go beyond the rocky and more obvious parts of the script. Gloria’s positive
attitude eventually pulls Art, a secretive man who hides his past and his feelings, into her confidence. This results in a touching scene
between them in which he takes his painful past out of the shadows and tells her about his past. Cole is perky and intelligent as Gloria
brings a much-needed rush of fresh new thoughts into Art’s life, which allows him to move forward.
There are a few times throughout the film that is seems that Ford tried too hard. This shows up anytime that Art is dealing with his rat
like landlord and his crazy wife. Though these comedic sequences are held to a minimum, they do offer the audience a few laughs
between the dramatic moments in the film. If there had been more of this weakened material in the film, the overall story would have
lost a lot of its dramatic value. Ford nicely balances out these elements to keep viewers enthralled in Art and Gloria’s lives, while still
getting a few laughs out of the odd times in their lives. There is a minor subplot involving Art’s personal war with his lazy, pot smoking
neighbors which seems to have been added on to give a touch of comic relief. However, much of it seems to be forced, especially in a
sequence in which a very drunk Art invades their house, believing it to be his own.
There are several surprises in Ford’s script, though they are not always good ones for the characters involved. Even with Gloria’s
smarts, the barbershop’s future is not completely assured. There are difficult moments for both characters to get around and a
groundbreaking decision for Gloria to make about her own future and her child. Both actors have showcase moments when their
characters fall apart and view things from a darker side. It is very clear in the end that these two will get what each need from the other:
stability for her; a sense of responsibility for him.
“The Village Barbershop” is a great film and works very well because of the tight focus that t holds on its two main characters and the
numerous troubles of their lives. It is a basic story that is told in a classic style, and while it may be quite predictable, there is a lot of
heart to the story being told, and a lot of it is very honest. Many viewers will like the film for the drama, others for the occasional
humorous elements of the film and yet others for the great acting of funny John Ratzenberger and beautiful Shelly Cole. In the end
Chris Ford gives audiences a pleasing Hollywood ending that everyone can enjoy.
same as the last and he has is mind set on the way that things need to be run. While driving his classic Ford Mustang to work one day
he sees a body being loaded into an ambulance. He finds out that the man covered on the gurney is his business partner, and the
book keeper of the small barbershop that he works at, the last piece of his life that still has structure. What Art doesn’t know is that his
routine is about to make a dramatic change in the new film, “The Village Barbershop.”
In another part of the city, Gloria MacIntyre just found out that she is pregnant. Living with her often absent trucker boyfriend in a very
small trailer, Gloria isn’t sure how she is going to make it. Her situation becomes even more troubling when her boyfriend returns
home from a job to information Gloria that he has met someone else and he is going to marry this new girl. This sends Gloria’s life
into a tailspin.
While watching the film viewers will see exactly where the story is going, and that is exactly where the film is headed. As fate has it, the
lives of Art and Gloria are brought together when Art needs a new barber and Gloria is looking for a job. The two struggle with the
different peculiarities of each other while trying to find their way through life without disturbing the other’s life. Both Art and Gloria prove
to be good people that are faced with a multitude of difficult choices to make.
Writer and Director Chris Ford has given audiences a narrative that is filled with awkward moments, such as when Art carries a bag of
groceries into the local strip club where he discovers one of his deceased wife’s friends, a fifty plus year old topless waitress. Art looks
her straight in the eyes through their entire conversation, keeping his gaze locked above shoulder height. The dry humor of the scene
comes when she suggests that they should have a drink and John Ratzenberger’s character throws a quip asking her if she would be
able to cover up before they get the drink. It is a bit of a tender moment that, despite the adult location, feels very innocent and
harmless. It helps that Ratzenberger’s expression is perfect for the situation; he really shows just how uncomfortable Art is with the
whole situation.
The actors are so genuine that they create characters that go beyond the rocky and more obvious parts of the script. Gloria’s positive
attitude eventually pulls Art, a secretive man who hides his past and his feelings, into her confidence. This results in a touching scene
between them in which he takes his painful past out of the shadows and tells her about his past. Cole is perky and intelligent as Gloria
brings a much-needed rush of fresh new thoughts into Art’s life, which allows him to move forward.
There are a few times throughout the film that is seems that Ford tried too hard. This shows up anytime that Art is dealing with his rat
like landlord and his crazy wife. Though these comedic sequences are held to a minimum, they do offer the audience a few laughs
between the dramatic moments in the film. If there had been more of this weakened material in the film, the overall story would have
lost a lot of its dramatic value. Ford nicely balances out these elements to keep viewers enthralled in Art and Gloria’s lives, while still
getting a few laughs out of the odd times in their lives. There is a minor subplot involving Art’s personal war with his lazy, pot smoking
neighbors which seems to have been added on to give a touch of comic relief. However, much of it seems to be forced, especially in a
sequence in which a very drunk Art invades their house, believing it to be his own.
There are several surprises in Ford’s script, though they are not always good ones for the characters involved. Even with Gloria’s
smarts, the barbershop’s future is not completely assured. There are difficult moments for both characters to get around and a
groundbreaking decision for Gloria to make about her own future and her child. Both actors have showcase moments when their
characters fall apart and view things from a darker side. It is very clear in the end that these two will get what each need from the other:
stability for her; a sense of responsibility for him.
“The Village Barbershop” is a great film and works very well because of the tight focus that t holds on its two main characters and the
numerous troubles of their lives. It is a basic story that is told in a classic style, and while it may be quite predictable, there is a lot of
heart to the story being told, and a lot of it is very honest. Many viewers will like the film for the drama, others for the occasional
humorous elements of the film and yet others for the great acting of funny John Ratzenberger and beautiful Shelly Cole. In the end
Chris Ford gives audiences a pleasing Hollywood ending that everyone can enjoy.
