"Soul Men" has plenty of soul, a hefty helping of raunch and a lot of heart.It's a familiar kind of movie featuring a grumpy old odd couple, a raucous cross-country road trip, a laundry list of ancient grievances and so on, along with the kind of ending that always gets attached to films with such motifs. But because the stars are Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac, the grumpiness is a smidgen more sarcastic, the polarization more realistic, the raucousness more outre, the reconciliation more textured.In their heyday in the late '60s and '70s, Louis Hinds (Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Mac) were the backup singers for soul/R&B marvel Marcus Hooks (John Legend). Louis and Floyd recorded an album after Marcus went solo, but the duo and their friendship fell apart quickly.Floyd established a car-wash empire and prospered, but his nephew (Mike Epps) has taken over the business and pushed Floyd into suburban retirement. Floyd chafes at having nothing to do, despite the friendliness of a neighbor (former adult-film star Vanessa del Rio).Louis is an ex-con and mechanic who is unmoved when Floyd shows up, tells him that Marcus has died and says they have been asked to perform at a tribute concert at the Apollo in Harlem. Louis signs on when he hears that money is involved, but he refuses to fly, and the two set off in Floyd's chartreuse Eldorado convertible.As they try to regain their groove during small shows en route, Floyd and Louis bicker, one-up each other and finally get to the real reason they broke up -- a woman.Director Malcolm D. Lee ("Undercover Brother") makes amends for "Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins" with this predictable but uproarious comedy. The script by Robert Ramsey and Matthew Stone is messy and gets bogged down in stereotypes (lusty honky-tonk women, would-be gangsta rappers, a nerdy agent-in-training), but Jackson and Mac have so much fun, it's easy to forgive the detours.Jackson is convincing as a man who's still struggling to find peace within himself. Mac is wholly believable as an A-type unused to being a passenger on the ship of his destiny. Their stage work may not top that of the Pips, but as actors, they're a dream team scoring nonstop one-liners and truths about friendship.The film also benefits from the acting and singing talents of luminous Sharon Leal and the inimitable presence of Isaac Hayes, who died Aug. 10, one day after Mac.The realization that Mac has passed away can't help but make his comic highs here feel bittersweet, but there's no denying his gift. Lee pays tribute to both Mac and Hayes in the end credits with footage that takes just the right tone.Rated R for pervasive language, and sexual content including nudity.Four stars (out of five)(Contact Knoxville News Sentinel film critic Betsy Pickle at pickle(at)knews.com.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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