81 - Friday

Published: Jan. 21, 2020, 1 a.m.

100 FOR A HUNDRED!!!! 81. FRIDAY (1995, dir. F. Gary Gray) Coming off a slew of 90s films about the dangerous lifestyle of California streets, Friday is a refreshing look at a Cali suburb as seen through the eyes of Craig, a stuck-in-a-rut man who just lost his job (on his day off!?). Accompanying Craig is his best friend Smokey (Chris Tucker, in a career defining performance), determined to make sure Craig relaxes and enjoys the start of a good weekend. Between confrontations with local drug dealer Bi Worm, neighborhood chain snatching bull Deebo, and Craig's affable advances at Debbie, Friday remains of the funniest and endearing films about African American life.