Get Hard (MA)
Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart
SOME have criticised this film for its lack of political correctness.
In fact, they should have slammed it just because it’s not very good … or very funny, for that matter.
The premise is a boomer: alleged white-collar criminal Will Ferrell has been sentenced to 10 years of hard time in San Quentin.
With 30 days until the cell door slams, he pays black carwash operator and alleged gangsta Kevin Hart to teach him how to stay alive in the pen.
Now that’s funny – and Ferrell is certainly perfectly cast, playing exactly the same role as always of befuddled uncool white guy.
Maybe it’s the script, or maybe the decidedly unfunny and surprisingly diminutive sidekick Kevin Hart, but the fact remains that the thing falls flat.
There are a handful of good scenes. A simulated prison riot was enjoyable, as was the attempt of Ferrell to join the local black street gang.
A few other scenes raise a mild chuckle as well, but mostly the laugh-o-meter doesn’t budge.
If anything, this film is most reminiscent of “The Interview“ another cracking idea that failed to launch.
Be warned, too – there’s plenty of off-colour humour, plenty of language, and a ton of racial and gay jokes. None of that confronts me … it’s just not very funny.
Be glad we live in the West, where such a film can be made. Be sorry it wasn’t funnier.
– Jason Beck
