Review: Ride Along
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
[Grade: C] Starring ubiquitous Philly product Kevin Hart as a nerdy civilian eager to impress his prospective brother-in-law, a wildcard cop, Ride Along plays things safe.
City Paper grade: C
Hirsute comic Jason Mantzoukas has no trouble stealing scenes as demented criminal Rafi on The League, but he's out of his element as co-writer of a PG-13 comedy that's more dad-friendly than deranged. Starring ubiquitous Philly product Kevin Hart as a nerdy civilian eager to impress his prospective brother-in-law, a wildcard cop, Ride Along plays things so safe that its funniest gags come as a relief instead of a surprise. Obsessed with tracking down an elusive underworld kingpin named Omar, vice detective James (Cube) wants nothing to do with his little sister's spazzy, video game-obsessed boyfriend, Ben (Hart). Challenging him to tag along on duty for a day, James organizes a series of inane situations to test Ben's mettle — until Omar and his crew of real-life criminals show up. The open-ended construction of the plot could have allowed for any number of opportunities for Hart, who's got broader appeal than most comedians working today. Instead, the movie's little more than an unending string of straight man/silly man cracks about his slight height. We get it, he's short. What else you got?
