classicsoncall
What I found inspiring about the story was it's message, largely implied by Laurence Fishburne's character, that the way out of the ghetto was for people to take charge of their own lives and improve themselves via education and taking personal responsibility. The dichotomy of street life is represented by Tre Styles (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Ricky Baker (Morris Chestnut), who make an effort to improve their situation in life, against the gang-banger mentality of young blacks like Doughboy Darren (Ice Cube) and Dooky (Dedrick D. Gobert), who engage in an eye for an eye existence in relation to the street gangs that roam South Central Los Angeles. Particular emphasis is placed on the idea of young black kids needing a father, or at least a father figure in their lives to teach them right from wrong in matters of education, job skills and even the responsibility that goes along with pre-marital sex. The dialog between Furious and his son is particularly frank and well intentioned, making this picture appear to be worthy viewing for all inner city high school students. I found the movie to be sensitive and thought provoking, with only some mild disappointment with the closing screen narrative that described the fate of Doughboy two weeks after the tragic death of Ricky. As a fictional story, I didn't find it necessary to sensationalize the drama of yet another young man's death in service to the movie, as there was enough to contemplate regarding the tragedy that had just recently occurred.
dissident320
For whatever reason I had seen Menace II Society when I was younger numerous times but had not watched this movie. Viewing this I can see M2S owes a lot to this film.There's not a weak performance in it and the story draws you into this world. Nothing is glamorized, it's just how things are for these characters. Not everyone is going to make it out of this way of life no matter how hard they may try.The standout actors are probably Cuba Gooding and Ice Cube. Not matter what you may think of the roles they take now, this movie proves they had the chops to do greater things.I obviously can't vouch for the accuracy of John Singleton's portrayal of inner-city life but he definitely captured something emotionally powerful.
brigette-lundeen
Tre (Cuba) goes to live with his Dad (Lawrence Fishbourne) outside of LA. He grows up next to his 2 best friends who are brothers in a neighborhood where hearing cop sirens and gunshots was a regular occurrence. Watching the struggles and constant bombardment of violence that these kids grew up facing was eye-opening. Violence was a constant reality for even the "good" kids.The acting was great. Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding Jr were phenomenal. This is the first big role for both of them and their performances set them both apart as both exceptional actors.
monstermayhem32
Even after more than 25 years since its raise, boys in the hood remains what I would call a cult classic. While the film does have its funny moments, but what's great about is how it deals what blacks had to go through in crime ridden Los Angeles and often trapped in the gang life because of limited opportunities and how the consequences of that life would result in jail, teen pregnancy, and death. The story deals with three friends, the, doughboy, and Ricky who try to navigate the struggles they go through on a daily basis while trying to avoid being trapped in the thug life.
AD
