Don’t expect any controversy around what’s said in the barbershop this time around. BarberShop 2: Back in Business plays it safe as far as the cutting comments, but what it has lost in sharp barbs in makes up for with a fuller story and fully fleshed out characters.

When we left the barbershop, Calvin (Ice Cube) had managed to save his shop from financial ruin and keep his father’s business afloat. This time around, the shop is thriving, but a slick new Nappy Cutz opening just across the street threatens its success. It seems that the neighborhood is undergoing a trendy, upscale renovation and there is no place for small community businesses in the new vision of lattes, co-ops and video stores.

What I liked best about BarberShop 2 is that the characters we came to love in the original have grown up a bit in part two. Terri (played by Eve) is a bit kinder and gentler (just a bit). Jimmy (Sean Patrick Thomas) is no longer working in the shop and has his dream job in politics working for a local and corrupt alderman (Robert Wisdom). Ricky (Michael Ealy), who was fresh out of prison last time around, is still trying to better himself. And, Calvin has grown and matured as a husband and father.

Queen Latifah has been added to the mix this time around as Gina, a beautician at the shop next door. Her character fits in seamlessly with the rest of the cast and her scene at the barbeque with Eddie is the movie’s best (look for the Queen to star in the spin-off, Beauty Shop). Kenan Thompson, of Nickelodeon’s Kenan and Kel show and Saturday Night Live, plays Calvin’s fresh out of barber school cousin. He’s good for a few good laughs although he comes close to overdoing once or twice.

But just like some things change, some things remain the same. Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) is still mouthing off about everything and everybody; the DC Snipers, Bill Clinton, R. Kelly, Kobe Bryant and, of course, Michael Jackson are all targets. In fact, we get even more about Eddie this time around. Through a series of flashbacks, we get a lesson in Eddie’s history, how he started at the barbershop, as well as a lesson in black history. Eddie even gets a love interest in Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon (you know her from NYPD Blue). While I see where they were trying to go with the flashbacks, overall I felt they slowed down the momentum of the main story.

It is the rare sequel that is better than the original. If I had to chose, I'd still prefer the original Barbershop. However, BarberShop 2 holds up surprisingly well. It's a funny, warm and enjoyable family film.