Kevin Hart is one of today's most well-known comedians, and even though the majority of his films involve him using the same type of comedy (typically involving making fun of his height), he's managed to star in some really decent films. With "The Secret Life of Pets 2" being released, I took a look at my five personal favorite Kevin Hart films.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#5
Central Intelligence
Moreso for Dwayne Johnson's performance than Kevin Hart's, "Central Intelligence" is a prime example of Kevin Hart's bread and butter - act alongside another comedian in a buddy comedy (see "Night School," "Get Hard," and so on). Here, the two play adults who were in the same high school, but back then Hart was the popular jock while Johnson was the overweight nerd, and now Johnson works for the CIA and enlists Kevin Hart's help to save the world. The saving grace for this film is the actors' shared chemistry, otherwise it would've fallen to just a typical Kevin Hart film.
#4
Ride Along
The film that solidified Kevin Hart as the eternal buddy-comedy king, "Ride Along" features Hart as a short, more feeble man trying to prove to his girlfriend's policeman brother (played by Ice Cube) that he's man enough to date his sister, and the two embark on a ride along that will test their patience as well as their lives. The film was a huge success that's garnered a sequel (and another in the works), and also made Kevin Hart a household name in cinema.
#3
The Upside
While Kevin Hart again chooses to act alongside another veteran actor (in this case it's Bryan Cranston), what makes "The Upside" better is the fact that it's not a strictly comedic outing, but rather a touching tale of two unlikely friends who come together to help one another through difficult situations. While the film this is based off is much better, "The Upside" does include some great dramatic performances by Hart, who's heightened by the mere presence of Bryan Cranston.
#2
The Secret Life of Pets
It's interesting that one of my favorite Kevin Hart performances comes in a film where we don't see him, just his voice. In the animated hit "The Secret Life of Pets," Hart plays Snowball, a no-nonsense rabbit who's street smart and somewhat diabolical, yet there's also a sweet sensitive side to him as well. Maybe it's because he doesn't rely on his old joke styles, but I found his performance here to be the scene stealer of the entire film.
#1
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Reuniting with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart manages to shine in "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle." Maybe it's because he's not just working with Johnson, but with Jack Black and Karen Gillen as well, but while he does return to his traditional comedic style, Hart also gives a stellar performance as an avatar of a high school jock, who's thrown into a video game as a short, loud man. So basically he does well at playing to his strength here, but with three other leads in the film, it doesn't become overbearing and stale.
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder." When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go. I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen. Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President. Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a...
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small ...
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a...
Comments
Post a Comment