The following are brief movie reviews of "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," "Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin," "50 First Dates," "Kitchen Stories," and "Monsieur Ibrahim."

These films were recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Barbershop 2:
Back In Business" (MGM)
Raucous and irreverent sequel which finds the owner (Ice Cube) of the titular storefront being squeezed by a slick businessman (Harry Lennix) bent on putting him out of business by opening a trendy super-salon directly across the street. Director Kevin Rodney Sullivan maintains the politically incorrect tone of the original, but if you listen carefully, you can hear a positive message about the importance of community, beneath the shouts and coarse comments of the colorful, though endearing, neighborhood characters (including Cedric the Entertainer). An implied sexual encounter, fleeting drug content, brief violence, and recurring crude language and humor, as well as profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin" (MK2)
Fascinating documentary chronicles Chaplin's career as an actor, director, producer and composer as well as offering details on his often controversial personal life, which included eyebrow-raising love affairs and persecution by the FBI. Making ample use of film footage from some of Chaplin's most memorable movies and shorts, writer-producer-director Richard Schickel illuminates the genius of the Little Tramp while capturing his remarkable impact on cinema and his influence on subsequent cinematic success stories in all areas of film. References to Chaplin's romantic entanglements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"50 First Dates" (Columbia)
Occasionally entertaining romantic comedy about a love-'em-and-leave-'em veterinarian (Adam Sandler) working at an aquarium in Hawaii who falls for a sweet island beauty (Drew Barrymore), only to discover that she has a short-term memory problem which forces him to win her heart anew every day. Despite the on-screen chemistry of its star-crossed leads, the amusing premise is weighed down by crass dialogue and situations, making director Peter Segal's mnemonic melodrama hardly worth remembering. Recurring crude humor and language, as well as innuendo, a casual attitude toward sex, including several implied sexual encounters, some drug references and comic violence. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. Motion Picture Association of America rating, PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Kitchen Stories" (IFC)
Wryly poignant tale set in a remote 1950s Norwegian town where a Swedish loner (Tomas Norstrom) is hired to silently observe the movements of a taciturn bachelor (Joachim Calmeyer) in his stark kitchen for a government research study, but gradually the two men enjoy conversing, jeopardizing the project and sparking jealousy in the Norwegian man's resentful friend (Bjorn Floberg). Co-writer and director Bent Hamer's spare script and straightforward visuals capture awkward male friendships while bringing out the characters' humanity with abundant droll humor. Subtitles. An occasional crude expression and fleeting alcohol abuse. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Monsieur Ibrahim" (Sony Classics)
Tender tale set in Paris in the early 1960s about a motherless young Jewish boy (Pierre Boulanger) abandoned by his father, who finds an unlikely surrogate in a kindhearted, elderly Muslim grocer (Omar Sharif). Buttressed by nuanced performances from both ends of the life spectrum, director Francois Dupeyron's beautifully crafted film is a poignant, though minor, fairy tale about love, loss, friendship and tolerance. Subtitles. A few sexual encounters involving the teen protagonist and a prostitute, as well as sporadic crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

-- CNS