Photo by: Summit Entertainment
Men of minorities are often backed into tight spots, forced to make necessary decisions and kill a guy or two. No big deal, right?
Bloodshed frequently justifies the ends. Add a dash of cocaine and the night will be lit with gunfire.
“Next Day Air” shows us exactly how gruesome life can be due to a simple mix up in the mail. Another common day goes by for pot junkie Leo (Donald Faison) in the world of mail delivery. While highly under the influence of marijuana, Leo delivers a large package to the wrong recipients.
However, the contents of said package were never intended to fall into the wrong hands.
Dysfunctional street thugs Brody and Guch (Mike Epps and Wood Harris) answer a loud knock on their door and receive this volatile package. Without bothering to check the mailing information, Guch cuts open the box only to realize he and Brody have stumbled across 10 kilos of high quality cocaine.
Before the thugs sell it off, the intended recipient of the cocaine, Jesus (Cisco Reyes), begins a desperate search for the delivery boy who made this fatal mistake. Things begin to grow tense as several different parties do their dirty dealings and go to drastic measures all for the sake of this cocaine.
“Next Day Air” makes such a violent and sketchy theme into a hysterical event. Simply put, this movie is very funny. Faison’s role as a burnt out delivery lackey lands him in so much trouble that you can’t help but laugh. All of the film’s characters are fairly ridiculous as well. Even the cruel and merciless drug lord, Bodega Diablo (Emilio Rivera) cannot be taken seriously.
Of course, as with most decent comedies, “Next Day Air” has a subpar plot which may or may not affect your viewing pleasure. Ask yourself this: did you go to this movie expecting an artistic, original plot? Or, did you go to the movie for a few cheap laughs? The latter certainly can be promised.
Visually, this movie looks a little loose and leans on the more boring side of the spectrum. Between an urban setting and an apartment, you’re not looking at too much. But what movie doesn’t end up forcing you to gaze at the cityscape for one to two hours these days? There are plenty of moments of violence to appease a blood-hungry audience.
Go see “Next Day Air” if you’re tired of the kitsch romantic comedy and want to see some action. The movie doesn’t do anything remotely close to blockbuster quality, but at least you’ll walk out of the theater thanking yourself for staying out of the drug business.
