The Cookout, another film that capitalizes on the success of the Barbershop franchise by striking a similar tone and formula, apparently makes Barbershop look like a timeless classic.
Tom Neven (Plugged In) lists off The Cookout's faults: "This mess of a movie is just plain awful: Terrible acting, horrible directing, stilted dialogue, wretched writing, drug references and grade-school potty humor overwhelm the story. It plays on the worst stereotypes of blacks, whites and homosexuals in an attempt to get laughs."
The Cookout: David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) says, "While imparting a message that family is more important than fame, much of Lance Rivera's unfunny directorial debut only serves to reinforce many of the African-American stereotypes it purports to discredit."
