Ride Along (2014)
2014
PG-13
99 Minutes
For the past two years, high-school security guard Ben has been trying to show decorated APD detective James that he's more than just a video-game junkie who's unworthy of James' sister, Angela. Wh...
User Review
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Ride Along feels more like a tame carousel than a thrilling rollercoaster. I will still openly admit that I'm not a fan of Kevin Hart, his comedy just doesn't do anything for me. However, I'm always open to new opportunities that may alter my thoughts on his humour. Unsurprisingly, this film doesn't do that. A rookie police cadet who spends most of his time gaming joins his girlfriend's brother, who is an experienced officer, for a day of training to get some experience. Essentially a comedic imitation of 'Training Day', just one that isn't very funny...or humorous at all. Yet another American comedy where I did not smile, chuckle, laugh out loud or snigger. I was my usual emotionless self. The comedic moments come from the juxtaposing personalities of Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, who's onscreen chemistry felt incredibly natural together, where the latter is supposed to provide the laughs with his hyperbolic body language and high-pitched shouting. It just does nothing for me. Just Hart being Hart, in every single film he is in. Cube on the other hand is more likely to get a smile from me due to his natural deadpan delivery of the shoddy dialogue that was provided. The screenplay was uninspired as it solely strolls down the route of racial stereotypes and "oh, you're black so you act like this" and so forth. Unoriginality at its most obvious. The plot itself was a generic forgettable ball of nothingness that only became established during the third act. What I will say is the last thirty minutes were enjoyably watchable, the action is elevated with some buoyancy and committed combat choreography from its actors although edited haphazardly with quick cuts aplenty. The pace moves along at a steady rate and never dips to boring levels, but the aura of mediocrity that surrounds the action "comedy" just cannot be ignored. No laughs however certainly watchable. Just, it's a ride that I don't necessarily want to be part of again. Maybe the sequel can entice me into appreciating Hart's humour...(yeah, right).0 member like this review.
