Central Intelligence
Blu-ray
Review by Kam Williams
Kevin
Hart and The Rock Co-Star in Unlikely-Buddies Comedy
Back
in high school, Calvin (Kevin Hart) was voted "Most Likely to
Succeed" while his chubby pal Bob (Dwayne Johnson) was being
bullied by classmates because of his weight.. But that was a couple
of decades ago, and a lot has changed since then.
Today,
we find Calvin wondering whether he might have peaked during his
glory days at Central High when he and his childhood sweetheart
Maggie (Danielle Nicolet) were voted Homecoming King and Queen. Yes,
the two did marry, but the relationship's been so rocky she's
currently insisting they enter therapy. Things are even worse for
Calvin at his accounting firm, where he's just been passed over for a
promotion to partner.
By
comparison, Bob's fortunes have improved immeasurably over the
intervening years. He's not only shed all that unwanted baby fat but
he's re-sculpted himself into a veritable Adonis by pumping iron a
half-dozen hours a day. Furthermore, he's flourishing in an enviable
career as a crack CIA Agent well-versed in the tools of international
espionage.
The
pair's paths cross for the first time in years at their 20th high
school reunion where Calvin is impressed by both Bob's new physique
and his daring line of work. So, it's no surprise that the suave spy
is able to enlist the jaded pencil pusher's technical assistance on
his latest assignment. He also could use a little help apprehending
the assassin who murdered his partner (Aaron Paul).
That's
the point of departure of Central Intelligence, an unlikely-buddies
comedy directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (We're the Millers). Kevin
Hart has proven himself quite the master of the genre, given the
success of such box-office hits as The Wedding Ringer, Get Hard and
Ride Along 1 and 2, to name a few. Unfortunately, Kevin and co-star
Dwayne Johnson fail to generate any chemistry, despite sharing the
screen in scene after scene of silly slapstick.
The
bulk of the picture's pathetic attempts at humor revolve around
contrasting buff Bob's bravery with weak-kneed Calvin's cowardice.
But sadly, the laughs are few and far between during this
decidedly-underwhelming action-adventure.
Too
bad whoever directed the promising trailer probably didn't direct the
movie.
Fair
(1 star)
Rated PG-13 for
violence, sexuality, nudity, crude humor and brief profanity
Running time: 107
minutes
Distributor: Warner Brothers Home
Entertainment Group
Blu-ray Extras:
Director's commentary; gag reel; alternate scenes;
Line-O-Rama; Couch Scene; and a Dance-Off.
To see a trailer for
Central Intelligence, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxEw3elSJ8M
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