Shaft (2019) is a belated sequel and reboot of Shaft (2000) that starred Samuel L Jackson as the nephew of the original John Shaft (Richard Roundtree.)

The new film has Jackson's John Shaft encountering his long lost son JJ (Jessie T Usher) who is now a cyber security nerd working for the FBI.

When JJ's best friend Karim a former army veteran and drug addict dies of an overdose. JJ seeks out his dad's help who he was apart from because his mother thought life would be too dangerous if John Shaft was around.

Karim might had been involved in a mosque with a radical cleric that the FBI are interested in. Karim was also involved in an army veterans assistance program called 'Brothers Watching Brothers.'

John Shaft is appalled with his straightlaced son who is polite and politically correct. He also dislikes guns. JJ is a naive when it comes to ghetto life although he knows some Brazilian martial arts.

It is up to John Shaft to kick down some doors and breaks some bones to find answers. John Shaft also has an ulterior motive to help out his son. When the going gets tough, the original Shaft brings in the firepower.

Shaft (1971) was a tough, hard nosed blaxploitation action film. Richard Roundtree has now played the character for 48 years. Here he has now gone from being Jackson's uncle to his dad.

Director Tim Story has gone for a more comedy slant in this version. It is a comedy of generational contrasts between Jackson and Usher's characters. It is sporadically funny in its rude crude way. Roundtree steals the show when he turns up. He would rather shaft than share the limelight.

The main plot though is so plain and uninteresting. Also it is surprising how someone guileless like JJ ever got into the FBI.

SHAFT is a lazy Netflix cash-in on the SHAFT franchise and a surprise follow-up to the 2000 Samuel L. Jackson movie. The twist is that Jackson's grown-up kid is no the co-lead in a story of revenge against the usual gang of deadly drug dealers. Sadly, this film seems to have been made in a hurry and it's one that goes through the motions rather than innovating at all. The script is bogged down with endless profanity and no kind of wit at all, while the young guy is a complete bore. Jackson barks his lines with a gruff delight and is the best thing in this, at least until Richard Roundtree shows up in the final act and brings a ton of charisma; he's been away from our screens for far too long. Other than a couple of vibrant shoot-em-up scenes, SHAFT is a missed opportunity.

In 1989, Maya (Regina Hall) has enough of the bullet flying chaos. She leaves John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) and Harlem with their baby son. JJ Shaft (Jessie T. Usher) would grow up with an absent father other than some inappropriate birthday gifts. He graduates from MIT and joins the FBI as an cyber analyst. When his childhood friend is found dead, he intends to prove that he is not another druggie vet. Only he lacks the street smarts to solve the case.

Samuel L. Jackson is one funny mother. His chemistry with Regina Hall is hilarious. His chemistry with the son is not as good. The kid needs a few adjustments to make it a more compelling relationship and a compelling transformation. He's a little too cocky. If he is a little more timid, he could gain confidence from daddy and that would be a great character arc. I like many of the jokes especially the referential ones. The final trio is not as fun as it intends to be. Regina Hall would be a much funnier third wheel in the trio although I perfectly understand the reveal. In the same way that Junior has skills, it would have been fun for the mom to have skills. As for the story, it's almost unnecessary. It just needs some bad guys and some more car chases.