Video:

Both films are presented in anamorphic widescreen. Barbershop contains some serious video noise on the edges of objects at times, but otherwise is strong and has a wide color palette. The sequel mostly solves the noise issue.

Audio:

Both DVDs feature a 5.1 audio track, and both tracks work hard to separate the omnipresent music from the dialogue. It's more successful in the second than the first, where a bass line sometimes obscures Eddie's lines. The rear surrounds are rarely used.

Extras:

There are lots of extras on both discs. The original Barbershop features a fantastic commentary track with director Tim Story, producers Robert Teitel and George Tillman Jr., and writer Don D. Scott. The foursome are entertaining, have lots of stories to share and also get into some of the ideas behind the process of filmmaking. It's a track almost as entertaining as the film, in some respects.

There are also deleted scenes, outtakes, four short documentaries, an interactive trivia game and a music video for "Trade It All" by Fabolous featuring P. Diddy and Jagged Edge.

Barbershop 2 is similarly loaded, starting with two commentary tracks. The first is a "video commentary" featuring Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy Garity and Jazsmin Lewis. The participants pop up in the lower part of the screen throughout the film to add some insights, but the pop-up box is too small and the comments are too few and far between to be meaningful.

Faring much better is the commentary by Teitel, Tillman and director Kevin Sullivan. The trio do a much better job of filling the time, and especially interesting is their comments about the rushed decision and process of turning a successful stand-alone film into a franchise (MGM asked for a sequel only a week after the original film opened).

There are two music videos on this disc, including the standout Sleepy Brown track "I Can't Wait," featuring Outkast. Deleted scenes, outtakes and a photo gallery are also included.

There is also a third disc, included in a cardboard sleeve, with a six-minute EPK for Beautyshop. Bonuses for the "Collector's Set" include a headband and four "collectible postcards," describing hairstyles.

Final Thoughts:

At a price point roughly equivalent to buying the two films separately, there's no reason for anyone who owns the standalone versions of Barbershop or Barbershop 2 to pick up the "collector's set." However, if you don't own either film, the quality of the two movies is more than enough to justify a purchase.