DVD Reviews: All About The Benjamins

Having been a fan of Ice Cube from well back in the day when he busted out the opening line of "Straight Outta Compton" with the gangsta rap group NWA, I was stoked to get this flick to review for you. Cube goes from strength to strength as both an actor and a musician and whilst this role doesn't exactly stretch his abilities in either respect, it sure is a funny, exhilarating from start to finish.

The story revolves around a bounty hunter (Cube), his prey (Mike Epps) and a diamond heist with enough bling bling to buy your own island. Epps plays the part of a small time con man who is currently on the lam from a court appearance and that's where Ice Cube comes in as the man sent to find him and bring him in. The resulting chase finds both men having to team up as they unwittingly become witnesses to a huge diamond heist gone wrong.

Not to mention the fact that Epps has a winning lottery ticket worth about 60 million dollars in his wallet that is now in the possession of the man who committed the robbery and murders!

These two actors play well off each other and make for a good team in a Dean Martin/ Jerry Lewis kind of way. Whilst is both capable of comedy, Ice Cube is the more serious of the two, whilst Epps is the clever slapstick kind of guy. It's a good combination that has worked to good effect on a number of movies now including a few in the (in my opinion) brilliant Friday series.

The disc contains a wealth of extras as well, adding a lot of value to the disc overall. Possibly the only disappointment that I found was that there wasn't a commentary from Cube himself and Epps. That would have been a riot to listen to the two of them and the process involved in the film. Instead we have a great listen in on Kevin Brays take on the film and a laugh a second gag reel that was a great inclusion but really should have gone a little bit longer. Search the disc however as there is a hidden feature on the DVD and I am embarrassed to admit that I could not find it, however it's advertised on the slick. Email me if you know where it is! Also take the time out to watch the various docos about the making of the movie for some great moments.

Hip hop heads wanting a bit of Cube spittin' rhymes look elsewhere as there is not a lot of that going on in this one. However to appease those of you who still want some rap, there's a great music video of Trina rapping "Told Y'all" that is definately worth checking out.

I'd recommend this one to anyone who likes an action comedy. Both stars are strong performers in their own right however when together it makes for some great stuff.