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Soul Men is a U.S. musical comedy movie that was written by Robert Ramsey and
Matthew Stone. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the main cast includes Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac. The story involves two former soul backup singers. Louis Hinds (played by Samuel L. Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (played by Bernie Mac) have not spoken in over 30 years. They had been part of a trio along with Marcus (John Legend) and two backup singers. The group had enjoyed great success during the 1960s and 1970s.

When lead singer, Marcus, enjoyed success in a solo career, the two are left to fend for themselves as the Soul Men. This lasts for a while, but Floyd eventually gains success with a car wash business. Louis' life goes downhill and he spends time in prison.

When their old lead singer, Marcus dies, Louis and Floyd try to move past their differences to return to the spotlight in a reunion show. The memorial show is to be held at the legendary Apollo Theater, so the pressure is on.

The two embark on a cross country trip, calling themselves The Real Deal. Along the way, they deal with many old resentments, particularly when new singer, Cleo (played by Sharon Leal joins the pair. Cleo happens to be the daughter of a woman they both loved once, and could be the child of one of them. Cleo winds up with them since her abusive boyfriend threw her out.

Along the way, they encounter various problems that concern Cleo's abusive boyfriend, an up and coming gangsta rapper, Lester (played by Affion Crockett). Another incident involves Floyd having a raucous fling with Rosalee (played by Jennifer Coolidge).

Despite it all, after they struggle through some difficult shows on the road, The Real Deal manages to have a great performance and are well-received at the Apollo. The film ends with a memorial tribute for Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac. Mac gives an interview detailing his ambitions with a blooper reel, stand-up routine and sound booth work.

Soul Men is a 2008 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 49.