Friday [Deluxe Edition] [Director's Cut] [Blu-ray]

Director: F. Gary Gray F. Gary Gray

Overview

Hard-core rapper Ice Cube, after appearing in such hard-hitting films as Boyz 'N the Hood and Higher Learning, played his first comic role in this picture he co-wrote with frequent musical collaborator DJ Pooh. Craig (Ice Cube) manages to get fired on his day off (though he claims it's through no fault of his own) and spends the day hanging out with his buddy Smokey (Chris Tucker) and trying to avoid his father (John Witherspoon), who wants him to find another job immediately. Smokey (whose name might have something to do with his tremendous fondness for marijuana) has even more serious problems; he was given $200 worth of weed to sell by Big Worm (Faizon Love), but he ended up smoking it instead, and if he can't come up with the money by the end of the day, he'll be in a world of hurt (and will put Craig in the same place just for being his friend). And Deebo (Tom "Tiny" Lister, Jr.), a gargantuan bully who roams the neighborhood on his bicycle, has it in for Craig, while Craig tries his best just to stay out of his way. As one would expect, Friday features a strong hip-hop soundtrack, featuring tracks by such artists as Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, Mack 10, and Funkdoobiest, as well as old-school R&B selections from The Isley Brothers, Roger, and Rose Royce.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/08/2009
UPC:	0794043131592
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	R
Source:	New Line Home Video
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround EX]
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00
Sales rank:	12,452

Special Features

New featurette Friday: Straight Up (In HD); Introduction by Ice Cube; Additional scenes; Q&A interviews with director F. Gary Gray and producer Patricia Charbonnet; 2 music videos: Ice Cube's Friday and Dr. Dre's Keep Their Heads Ringin'; Theatrical trailers

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ice Cube	Craig
Chris Tucker	Smokey
Nia Long	Debbie
Tiny "Zeus" Lister Jr.	Deebo
John Witherspoon	Jones
Anna Maria Horsford	Mrs. Jones
Regina King	Dana
Paula Jai Parker	Joi
Faizon Love	Big Worm
D.J. Pooh	Red
Angela Means	Felisha
Vickilyn Reynolds	Joann
Ronn Riser	Stanley
Kathleen Bradley	Mrs. Parker
Tony Cox	Mr. Parker
Bernie Mac	Pastor Cleaver
Anthony Johnson	Ezal
Demetrius Navarro	Hector
Jason Bose Smith	Lil Chris
Justin Revoner	Kid No. 1
Meagan Good	Kid No. 2
LaWanda Page	Old Lady
Terry J. Vaughn	China
F. Gary Gray	Black Man at Store
Yvette Wilson	Rita
William L. Calhoun Jr.	Shooter
Renaldo Rey	Red's Father,Red's Father
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	Actor,Actor
DJ Pooh	Actor
Hidden Faces	Composer

Technical Credits

Ice Cube

D.J. Pooh

F. Gary Gray	Director
Ice Cube	Screenwriter,Producer,Executive Producer
Jaki Brown-Karman	Casting
Patricia Charbonnet	Producer,Producer
Kim Hardin	Casting,Casting
Julius LeFlore	Stunts
Robert Loftin	Special Effects
Bryan Turner	Executive Producer
D.J. Pooh	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The "hood," so often the setting for dramas about gang violence and racial intolerance, gets a winning comedic makeover in Friday, the surprise hit that launched the film career of comedian Chris Tucker. Tucker's manic torrent of dialogue works well alongside Ice Cube's put-upon exasperation, making for a memorable comic chemistry that carries the pair through a month's worth of shenanigans packed into a single wild day. Tucker may get the belly laughs, but Cube's straight man makes them possible, serving as the viewer's surrogate and a reluctant accomplice to Tucker's tactless trash talking. Cube deserves credit not only for his increasingly subtle acting, but also for a deft screenplay that zeroes in on the false machismo of its characters, while also revealing their underlying good humor. Cube doesn't deny that the threat of an imminent ass-kicking is the prime motivator in this environment, but he suggests that a lot of it is for show, and ultimately, these guys just want to have a good time. Centered around pot smoking, Friday has become a cult favorite among stoners, especially those who subscribe to Smokey's theory that the best way to spend an unprogrammed Friday is to light up a joint. After this confident debut, F. Gary Gray moved away from comedy, directing the crime thrillers Set It Off (1996) and The Negotiator (1998).

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