Movie Review – Ride Along

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube star in the action comedy Ride Along where basically Hart is out to prove that he’s man enough to marry Ice Cube’s little sister played by Tika Sumpter. Of course Ice Cube initially doesn’t think Hart is good enough for his baby sis and thus begins the game hazing. Ride Along is rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content and brief strong language. Is it good or is it just another retread?

Watching the trailer and various commercials I figured that Ride Along would follow the typical pattern of buddy, not-so-buddy cop comedy and unfortunately that’s exactly what you get. There is nothing original or refreshing about story. You could pretty much jot down your thoughts on a napkin about how you think the movie will unfold and how it would and most of you would be right. That’s where I have a problem with this. It feels as though there wasn’t much thought put into writing the script and that’s what made it somewhat vanilla. That’s the negative side to it.

On the positive side you can afford to “mail it in” to a certain degree when cast talent like Kevin Hart in a movie. Whether his part is small or more of a leading role he’s got it. He turned a mediocre movie at best into one that was at least entertaining to the point that you don’t feel like you’re wasting your time. Ice Cube nowadays always plays the angry intimidating characters with a hint of humor. In order for him to be successful in a lead role he needs someone who can transcend performance and offset his anger. Again Hart is great in that area.

Ride Along will definitely be a success at the box office but that doesn’t mean that it’s a good movie. Just like box office failure doesn’t mean a movie is bad. I give Universal Pictures credit because they marketed the heck out of this one and that paid off. Overall I felt that Ride Along is an average movie enhanced by the comic genius of Kevin Hart. There will undoubtedly come a time where we are saying “there he is playing the same type of character” and sigh. For now though I think he’s going to succeed as long as continues taking roles that play to his strengths. I can’t recommend rushing out to see Ride Along and paying full price unless you’re a big fan of either of the actors. I think it’s more of a rental even considering the fact that I am a HUGE Kevin Hart fan.