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In the last couple of years, it’s become clear that Kevin Hart is a comic on his way up—one with the magical ability to turn a mediocre comedy into a box office hit. So it’s no surprise that everyone in Hollywood wants to work with him. And though he may get second billing to Will Ferrell for his latest film, Get Hard, there’s no doubt that he’s the real star.
Get Hard finds Ferrell’s hedge fund manager James King at the top of his game. He’s shamefully wealthy, he’s about to marry the woman of his dreams, and he’s just been named a partner at his firm. But then he’s arrested for fraud and embezzlement—and though he insists that he’s innocent, he’s sentenced to 10 years in maximum security prison by a judge who decides to make an example of him.
With just 30 days to get his affairs in order, he turns to Darnell (Hart), the guy who washes his car—and who knows absolutely nothing about prison—to help him prepare for his time on the inside.
Get Hard is about as basic and brainless as a comedy can get. In fact, it feels more like an extra-long sketch than a fully developed feature-length film—focusing on King’s increasingly ridiculous attempts to prepare for prison instead of mixing in a story about his battle to stay out of prison. It isn’t until the final act that the Darnell suggests that they should at least attempt to prove King’s innocence, which gives the film just the slightest hint of a plot in the end.
The humor, too, is pretty basic. Just take one oblivious rich white guy, add some racial stereotypes, and season it all with homophobic humor. It’s nothing new or ground-breaking—especially when it comes to Ferrell—and for all but the most diehard fans, the same old jokes will quickly lose their appeal. After all, there’s really nothing here to distinguish Ferrell’s character from any of the other characters he’s played; he’s just another overgrown man-child without a filter. He’s self-absorbed and about as prone to tantrums as the average toddler. How he’s managed to make millions on the stock market is anyone’s guess, since he’s a complete idiot when it comes to just about everything else.
It’s Hart, then, who gives the film a new comic twist. His high-energy, no-nonsense style steals the spotlight from Ferrell’s usual shtick—and he shows surprising vitality and versatility as he runs comedic circles around his costar. He may be little more than a distraction from the film’s [many] weaknesses, but he’s one hilarious distraction.
Get Hard isn’t a great comedy. It’s light on plot and heavy on stereotypes—and it’s more of the same from Ferrell. But it gets a much-needed boost from Hart, who manages to take the same old comedy and make it at least occasionally entertaining.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
