'Barbershop: The Next Cut' brings comedy while highlighting Chicago violence

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Twelve years later, the original stars are back in the latest film in the franchise, "Barbershop: The Next Cut." Once again there are plenty of laughs, but the comedy also includes drama taken from real problems today as the film focuses on the gun and gang violence plaguing Chicago.

Star and producer Ice Cube said he did not want to turn a blind eye to a very real problem.

"We wanted a reason, you know, to do another "Barbershop," said Ice Cube. "And being on the south side of Chicago and not addressing what's going on right outside the door of the barbershop would be, you know, a mistake to me."

"So we have a funny comedy, you know, that wraps around this great story and the laughs keep coming but also, you know, we hit you with some heart," Ice Cube continued.

The comedy with a conscience also hits you, once again, with Cedric the Entertainer as the shop's eldest barber. You never know what's going to come out of his character's mouth, and while they were filming it, apparently neither did Cedric.

"I love the producer, Bob Teital, would always come over after a good take and say, 'Man, I love what you just did. Do that again,'" Cedric said. "I don't know what I did, Bob. Like, I have no idea what I just did right there."

Regina King and Eve were also back for the third "Barbershop" installment.

"She actually became, you know, this businesswoman and a mother and a wife," said Eve. "Settled and, you know, it was really nice for me to read and made me excited to go back and play her."

"We want people to leave and have stuff to talk about as opposed to, "What you want to eat? You know," said King.

The new additions to the shop include Nicki Minaj, Common and Lamorne Morris.

"If you leave with some sort of positivity, not just because you laughed a lot, you know, I think the movie served its purpose," said Morris.

"Barbershop: The Next Cut" is rated PG-13 and is in theaters on Friday.