Kevin Hart, small of stature but wide of mouth, only hits my funny bone intermittently but with Ice Cube adding his deadpan snarl, intermittent is enough to save this cop buddy funny movie “Ride ALong”.
Kevin wants to marry badass cop Ice Cube’s sister but Ice Cube thinks Hart is all mouth and trousers and when Hart gets accepted into the police academy decides to take Hart on “Ride Along” -where civilians go on patrol with cops. Ice Cube requests all the most annoying assignments in an effort to rid himself of Hart once and for all.
Watching Hart attempting to intimidate a nine year old boy is really funny, Hart is such a high energy nervous presence and takes his interrogation of the kid so personally it is really funny. As is his attempts to get a biker gang to move their Hogs. But Ice Cube is in search of some very bad Serbians and Kevn is gonna find himself involved and in danger.
And while Kevin can be very wearying after awhile, he mixes well with Ice Cube’s intense ferocity. The two play off each other very well as Kevin wins over Cube in their deadly search for Mr. Big Omar.Much better than say “The Heat”, but only because Hart gives shortness a grace in exact proportion to the gracelessness Melissa McCarthy gives weight. Kevin is a sharp tongue, funny guy and he carries “Ride Along” so well all Ice Cube has to do is look pissed off till he is won over.
There are worst ways to kill a Sunday afternoon at the Cineplex.
Grade: B