Next Day AIr (2009)

What appeared as a typical "black" comedy turns out to be well executed story of money, deception, and murder. Not quite what it seems as Next Day Air proves, "it's all in the delivery."

Hip-Hop music video director Benny Boom brings us the dysfunctional story of a day in the life of ten individuals whose paths will cross in a unforeseen series of events. Donald Faison (Scrubs) stars as Leo, a soon to be fired delivery driver who mistakenly drops off the right package to the wrong people. Small time thugs Brody (Mike Epps) and Guch (Wood Harris) work fast to move the product and score a big payday, but the original owner is hot and on a rampage to take back his goods. Watch the weed induced humor as the supporting cast (Omari Hardwick, Emilio Rivera, Cisco Reyes, and the always funny Mos Def) flips the scripts and heads start to roll.

While not being what I expected, it was enough to keep me entertained. From the previews and the actors, I really thought it would be your average, typical comedy in the vain of Friday, but that was not the case (though Mike Epps does use a line from the first few minutes of Friday After Next). The acting was surprisingly good for a cast, other than the main players, who haven't seemed to be in much more than TV. It was fun to see a serious crime plot involve such small time goons, especially ones high on weed. But is that not how it always is? People without a clue land a hopeful payday at the expense of big time mafioso? What I'm saying is that it is a painfully unoriginal story. These days, making it "in the hood" isn't enough to carry a film.

6.5/10

Rated: R
84 mins