Friday • The Next Reel

Ice Cube’s rap career was on fire because of the work he was doing with N.W.A., but after playing Doughboy in John Singleton’s 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, he got the acting bug and wanted to do more films. He talked to N.W.A.’s publicist Patricia Charbonnet, and the two of them came up with the idea of telling a story of life in the hood that wasn’t so dark like Singleton’s film or others like it. With that, Cube and his friend DJ Pooh set to work on the script and Charbonnet cut a deal with New Line Cinema. Cube wanted F. Gary Gray to direct it, who he knew from directing several videos for his group. This team put together what they thought was a small comedy, but it’s turned into an iconic film that’s endured the test of time. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we kick off our new series looking at the Friday franchise with Gray’s 1995 film Friday. We talk about why the comedy in this film works so well and the impression it continues to make. We look at the nature of stoner films and how this fits in – and differs. We discuss the brilliant cast and what everyone’s bringing to the table, especially Chris Tucker and Cube himself. We chat about the tone that Gray, Cube, Pooh and team were looking to create with the film and discuss why these characters are so unforgettable. And we remember John Witherspoon, who brilliantly plays Craig’s father in the film, and has been burned in our brains.It’s a riot of a film and one we love to watch, so light up, check it out, then tune in to this week’s show. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!Film SundriesThank you for supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast on Patreon!Watch this film: iTunes • Amazon • YouTubeScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkFlickchartLetterboxdSupport The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible