When we get those High School reminder cards in the mail or messages on social media, many of us disregard them because we don’t want to relive the past due to our geekiness, bullying, or awkward moments that we all go through. Some of us avoid them altogether because we don’t want to be reminded of the possibilities that existed with youth if we had not lived up to them. In Central Intelligence, Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) is tackling the malaise and mundanity that comes with adulthood.
He doesn’t feel as though his life panned out quite like he hoped it would have when he graduated. He was elected “most likely to succeed” and the most popular kid in school, however, those accolades did not translate into “Real World” success. He is contacted by a former classmate, Bob (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and is quickly involved in a web of international espionage. Johnson and Hart’s chemistry rivals that of Wilder and Pryor.
The timing and freshness to the humor keeps the film moving without any lulls or without the moments being forced. The entire movie is fun and allows for audiences to have a new comedic duo that they can look forward to in the future. Central Intelligence allows us to laugh at ourselves and the reflect on the absurdities associated with trying to relive the “glory days” of our youth.
4/5
Second Review
By Sasha Glenn
At first glance, the trailer for “Central Intelligence” looks like it just might be a complete train wreck of a film, filled with cheesy one-liners and slapstick stunts. But, Director Rawson Marshall Thurber pulls this one off with comedic finesse.
Critiquing comedy is sort of a strange thing. Comedic films are not to be rated on realism, cinematography, or even dramatics. Instead, comedy should be rated on whether it achieves what it sets out to achieve — Laughter. “Central Intelligence” does just that. It has the audience rolling with laughter start to finish, even after leaving the theater.
The comedic style is relevant and sticks with you.
Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart), is a regular guy who once was a jock and the star of his high school. Life for Joyner hasn’t quite turned out as sparkly as he had hoped. When he reunites with what was once the most bullied kid of his high school, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson), he is thrown into a tangled web of secret agent adventure.
Hart’s reactionary persona is true to his classic comedic style. He is unabashedly fun to watch, as he is put through dangerous and whacky scenarios.
When things take a darker turn, Joyner begins to not know who to trust. Aaron Paul mixes things up in his role as Phil – Stone’s ex-partner, who is thought to be dead.
Reminiscent of the “Austin Powers” movies, “Central intelligence” is a spy comedy, except completely modern and nowhere near as hokey.
One of Johnson’s most entertaining roles yet, I give “Central Intelligence” 4.0 out of 5 stars.
