SHAFT is the fifth movie in the SHAFT series and it tries to redefine the SHAFT series for another generation like the 2000 SHAFT movie was also trying to do. It all started with the 1970s classic SHAFT (followed by SHAFT'S BIG SCORE and SHAFT IN AFRICA). In this current version, JJ (a miscast Jesse Usher) is the son of John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson). JJ is abandoned by his father and raised by his mom (Regina hall). He grows up to be a cyber security expert working for the FBI. When he believes a Muslim friend Karim's death is murder and not accidental heroin overdose like the police report says, he turns to his father to help solve the case.

The 2019 SHAFT is an action mystery comedy. It works when it focuses on Samuel L. Jackson's Shaft (who sometimes comes off as a sexist version of the original Shaft at times for comedy reasons), but it falters when it plays off JJ who comes off as a weak character. Richard Roundtree is back again as the original John Shaft, but the movie takes too long to introduce the original Shaft into the story. The comedy sometimes works, but other times the movie descends into an unfortunate parody of the SHAFT series. The plot of the movie isn't as strong as some of the other SHAFT movies.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
CAN YA DIG IT?: THE MAKING OF SHAFT (13 minutes)- a behind-the-scenes piece on the making of the new SHAFT from casting to adding comedy to filming in Atlanta (with some filing in New York City to add the New York setting flavor)

A COMPLICATED MAN: THE SHAFT LEGACY( 44 minutes)-
PART ONE: A BAD MOTHER BORN- the origins of the SHAFT novel and movie, and how Richard Roundtree was cast as Shaft
PART TWO: NO QUESTIONS ASKED- talk about making the original Shaft movies and how it had an impact on black action movies, and the popularity of the movies
PART THREE: A LEGEND IN HIS TIME- reflecting on the legacy of the movie series

Five deleted scenes cut for pacing reasons and a five minute gag reel round out the extras in addition to previews for DOCTOR SLEEP, GREMLINS, and GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS

FINAL ANALYSIS: SHAFT is a mixed bag where sometimes the comedy and miscasting of Jesse Usher make this entry in the SHAFT movie series only worth a rental. If you want to appreciate the character of Shaft, go watch the first three movies and even the fourth one which also stars Samuel L. Jackson.

This review is (c) 9-28-2019 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com and check for further content at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com