Father and child sit together smiling while looking at a smart phone.

Want more recommendations for your family?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter for entertainment inspiration

Parents' Guide to

Soul Men

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Late great Bernie Mac's last laugh is for adults.

Movie R 2008 111 minutes
Soul Men Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

age 16+

Ashame he is gone :(

Bernie Mac was a great talent. This movie is pretty funny but definitely for a mature 15 year old or not so 16+. Some is definitely boyish childish humor--but overall good movie.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

SOUL MEN, directed by Malcolm D. Lee, is by no means extraordinary, but it highlights Mac's comedic gifts enough to be a fitting swan song to his film career. Not only does Mac get a starring role instead of his more-frequent supporting gigs, but he's the humor to Jackson's righteousness (as in all of Jackson's films, he spouts some memorable monologues). Mac and Jackson's odd-couple chemistry propels this otherwise forgettable comedy forward, and Mac's improvisational delivery is a reminder of why he'll be sorely missed.

Mac fans should watch through the credits, which are entirely devoted to Mac's outtakes and off-camera interviews. Lee dedicated the comedy to Mac and Isaac Hayes -- "two real soul men" who died a day apart in August 2008. The latter appears as himself, the Black Moses of soul, in a small role. If for no other reason, this comedy is memorable for being their shared encore.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: November 7, 2008
  • On DVD or streaming: February 10, 2009
  • Cast: Bernie Mac , Jennifer Coolidge , Samuel L. Jackson
  • Director: Malcolm D. Lee
  • Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors, Female actors
  • Studio: Dimension
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 111 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: pervasive language, and sexual content including nudity
  • Last updated: June 2, 2023

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate