Review of Get Hard (2015) by Randy Y — 19 Apr 2017

Miraculously, the movie doesn't feel mean-spirited so much as profoundly awkward. Scripted by smart guys like Etan Cohen (Idiocracy, Tropic Thunder) and two behind-the-scenes writers on TV's consistently excellent Key & Peele, the film feels both daring and foolhardy. I don't believe that Get Hard sets out to be hurtful, and there are some good gags... but it does seem dumb and dated. From its juvenile double entendre title to its fascination with prison rape and homophobic humor, "Get Hard" practically announces itself as an offensive, tired and unimaginative comedy in nearly every scene. And yet I didn't hate it because Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart had such terrific comedic chemistry. It's all wildly uneven, but some bits really are funny. Ferrell plays his usual clueless character, but he's good at it. And it turns out a toned-down Hart is a funnier Hart. But Cohen can't keep a handle on it all. Worse, he has no feel for when the satire goes too far. This buddy comedy featuring the beautifully dissimilar duo of Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart feels like a more "mature" version of Superbad ... because the movie is a juvenile study in both male friendship and masculine fear. This will be tagged racist by some and commended for puncturing racism by others. There are a number of choice bits, yet for every couple of gags that work, there's one that falls flat. The odds when it comes to the homophobic material are even worse.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).