If you remember my review of the movie Grudge Match, you'll recall that I found Kevin Hart to be the most entertaining part of the film with his supporting role as Dante Slate Jr. Kevin Hart is easily one of the funniest and smartest entertainers in the business. His energetic style makes him endearingly funny. His honesty makes him real. He tries to connect to his audience more than most people do. That being said, he hasn't really had major success in the cinema. Does Ride Along help him in that field?
Ride Along is about security guard and police academy hopeful Ben Barber. He wishes to marry his long time girlfriend Angela Payton. The problem is that she won't go through with it without her Police Officer brother James' blessing. In order to gain James' approval, Ben joins him on a police ride along.
There is not much humor to be found in Ride Along, aside from a couple scenes. It relies mainly on old buddy cop cliches and seeing how our leads react in those situations. It doesn't really elicit much humor and frankly comes across as boring. We've seen them before so many times, and there is really no originality stemming from them. How many times can we have an angry Captain or Lieutenant that thinks that the protagonist is just playing by their own rules? There are so many creative people in Hollywood, it's about time we get something new.
Director Tim Story doesn't really make anything out of the film. It all feels extremely forced and fake. A scene in which could have given the film a little bit more weight does not land at all, and is played off for laughs that just don't come. It is very clear that for almost everyone involved, this is just a paycheck. It is sad really. The premise had the potential to be so much more.
Kevin Hart is the glue that keeps this movie together, but that isn't to say that he is a great actor. He simply provides the only real laughs. His jumpy-ness and kinetic energy keep the movie alive, but he never really dives into who his character is. He will surely have a great career, and cinema will be a big part of that. But this isn't a really a good showcase for his talent. If he wants good leading roles, he needs a script that really plays off his personality.
Ice Cube is good at what he does, but I wouldn't really call it acting. He is mainly just reading a script with a deep voice and a scowl. That being said, he can be entertaining, but in order to carry a picture, he needs more substance. He just seems bored, and in turn, so will the audience.
The only person in this film that really feels like they are putting anything into their role is Laurence Fishburne. His role as the mysterious villain Omar came as a real surprise. He is dark, yet brooding, and gives a chilling turn with nuances that standout. Nothing that will create awards buzz, but certainly the best performance in this movie.
Skip this movie. While Kevin Hart and Laurence Fishburne save this movie from complete failure, it's simply not that funny.
C
No comments:
Post a Comment