This was a classic, feel-good comedy for the whole family to enjoy. I was extremely excited about seeing this movie for quite some time. After it’s release, I have heard some incredibly mixed reviews. Some think it’s the funniest movie they have ever seen, and some think it was an absolute bust for Kevin Hart. Well I’m somewhere in between.
This movie has some incredibly funny moments and Kevin Hart is undoubtedly hilarious, as always. This story was cute, but it didn’t leave me wow’d by any means. With the hilarious previews, I was hoping this movie would be much more consistently funny and a better plot line than it was, but it did not live up to those expectations.
I think this movie is much better suited for younger teens and the less mature crowd. A lot of the comedy is toward that crowd– which of course, some will stick and make the older crowd die laughing, but even my 12 year-old sisters thought it was the best and funniest movie they have ever seen. I think this movie will definitely have better reviews from a younger crowd, even though it is rated PG-13.
PLOT Teddy, Kevin Hart, is a high-school drop out, but has an incredible job that allows him to make himself, seemingly, as an upper-class man. He has an extremely pretty high-class girlfriend, Lisa, played by Megalyn Echikunwoke. Teddy loses his job and needs to seem like he still has a lot of money, but he cannot get a new job without his GED. This whole story is about Teddy’s journey in going to night school at his old high school while trying to keep his lower-class, high school dropout self a secret from his long-term girlfriend, Lisa.
CAST If this movie didn’t have an outstanding cast, like it did, it would have been a bigger bust than it has been said that it was.
Kevin Hart as Teddy Walker– Come on now, can any Kevin Hart movie really be a bust? This movie is, of course, all about Kevin Hart. He has his classic comedy and this movie was obviously written for him. If you are a Kevin Hart fan, you will definitely enjoy this movie more than the average movie-goer.
Tiffany Haddish as Carrie- I don’t know if any of you are Tiffany Haddish fans, but I have been a fan of Tiffany since her appearance in That’s So Raven as Charolette. Tiffany is the strict, kind, and hilarious night school teacher that helps whip Teddy into shape. Her back-and-fourth banter between herself and Kevin Hart is what brings the most hilarity to the movie. Everyone in this movie is scared of her, but in the funniest way. We get to see a lot of sides to the character, Carrie, and Tiffany Haddish fits the gig for every layer of her.
Taran Killam as Stewart- Another star that I have been a fan of for a long time, since he was on The Amanda Show. I love Taran Killam, especially his name. In this movie he plays a much different role, rather than his typical comedy, SNL type character. He plays the principal that seems to have a stick up his rear. He has some very funny moments, but not in the same way as the other characters. I think Killam played this role very well considering how much it differed from his other famous roles.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Riggle as Mackenzie was a standout with his character’s dumb personality and goofiness. Romany Malco as Julian played a man paranoid about the illuminati and everyone around him, who was possibly the funniest character in this movie. Mary Lynn Rajskub as Theresa played a seemingly conservative mom that hated her life, but had an extremely edgy side to her. These three only made the movie just THAT more funny than it already was with three strong, well-known leads.
I enjoyed myself at this movie, by no means was I bored or wishing the movie was over. I think this is a great film for the whole family to go enjoy together this fall. Don’t believe all of the reviews saying how horrible this movie was. It will make you laugh and it will make you have a good feeling when you leave the theatre. I mean, really, can you go wrong with a Kevin Hart movie night? I don’t think so.
RATING: 64%