JJ Shaft, a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, enlists his family’s help to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death.

Shaft is a wild ride.  Politically incorrect, 80’s B-movie action/comedy vibes – You almost wonder “how did this get made in 2019?”  But, like me, you’ll be glad that it was made, because it’s a boat load of fun!

It’s great to see a film that serves no social or political agenda, and quite frankly doesn’t seem to care if it offends any of the more sensitive viewers – and that all fits in with the whole history of the Shaft character and his previous celluloid adventures.  And this IS a very worthy entry in the pantheon of John Shaft.

The way they have stitched the three generations or iterations of the Shaft character together, and continuing the story, even re-inventing to a degree – certainly re-invigorating, is cleverly done.  The cast is actually really great too.  Richard Roundtree returns as John Shaft Snr, Samuel L Jackson jumps back in to the role of  John Shaft, and Jessie T Usher gets involved as J.J Shaft.  The supporting cast features Regina Hall, Method Man and the excellent Titus Welliver.

Written by Kenya Barris and Alex Barnow, and directed by Tim Story, Shaft is well put together, engaging, and most importantly outrageously entertaining.  To be completely honest, I went into this with low expectations, and came away pleasantly surprised, so give it a shot!

Watch it now on Netflix.

8/10

Review by Rick Trewin