FRIDAY AFTER NEXT is the type of comedy in which the characters scream foul mouthed insults at each other and in which the voice track is always cranked up to the maximum under the theory that the loudest jokes must be the funniest.

The story is set during the Christmas season in which a Santa Claus robber has been stealing from everyone in the 'hood. The always likeable Ice Cube plays Craig Jones, who lives with his cousin Day-Day (Mike Epps) in a rundown apartment.

In order to get money to pay the rent, Craig and Day-Day take jobs as security guards -- sans guns or even flashlights -- at a cheap strip mall that has places like Pimps and Hos, an outlandish clothing boutique. A completely over-the-top character named Money Mike (Katt Williams) runs Pimps and Hos. His flamboyant clothing choices alone are enough to generate grins. The movie gets its biggest laugh from the audience when a beefy ex-con tries to rape him in a bathroom. Another big laugh comes when Craig's dad has an especially smelly and loud bowel movement. By the end of the picture, my own laugh count was zip, but I survived.

FRIDAY AFTER NEXT runs 1:25. It is rated R for "language, sexual content and drug use" and would be acceptable for older teenagers.