At first glance, the pairing of Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac may seem unexpected, but the two show a surprising amount of chemistry on-screen in Soul Men. To say the result is funny and gratifying is an understatement.
In a style similar to VH1's Behind the Music, the film opens by introducing us to Marcus Hooks and The Real Deal, a fictitious hit soul group. After a storied career with his two backup singers, Louis Hinds (Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Mac), lead singer Marcus Hooks (John Legend) decides to go solo. While Hooks goes on to super-stardom, his two former band mates are left behind to struggle in obscurity.
Fast forward 20 years, Henderson and Hinds have not spoken. They are nearing retirement age and showing it. When Henderson hears of Hooks' death, he decides to put the past behind him and seek out Hinds in order to make some money and stage a comeback.
Mac skillfully explores the hilarious and depressing effects of passing into the golden years as Henderson moves into a retirement community, a role that is reminiscent of the used cars salesman he played in Transformers.
On the flip side, Hinds lives in squalor and degradation following his years in the spotlight. However, in a manner that only Jackson can pull off, Hinds comes across as a deeply intelligent, philosophical man and deeply troubled while being undeniably cool through and through.
In some ways this is a reprisal of his turn as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction, but this character goes deeper than Jules did. Where Henderson has to come to terms with his physical limitations and fixed income, Hinds must come to terms with his past in a way we can all relate to.
Overall Jackson and Mac give solid performances, but the highlight comes when the soul man himself-Isaac Hayes-graces the screen and steals his scenes. Afterall, what's better than Isaac Hayes?
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