Comedies are tough to write about. I find it to be the most subjective genre of them all. One man’s Young Frankenstein is another man’s Tommy Boy. British humor, Lewis Black, Sarah Silverman, Adam Sandler. You either love or hate. It’s either funny to you or not. Politics, religion and comedy. The three topics better left untouched.
So do I recommend Get Hard to you?
The weenie/wussy answer is absolutely! IF you are a Kevin Hart and/or Will Ferrell fan and the concept looks funny to you. It delivers for those people. I am one of those people. I laughed throughout just watching the two riff off each other. This is the best Will Ferrell comedy since Stepbrothers in 2008. He does not stretch in any way. He is Will Ferrell doing the Will Ferrell thing. Just as Kevin Hart is playing the typical Kevin Hart role. I found it very funny despite the inner-critic in me telling me “No!”
See the critic’s answer is the movie is lazy. They spend very little time developing any type of plot. Alison Brie is a one-dimensional caricature playing Ferrell’s vapid fiancé. She’s better than that. In fact, the entire film is populated with nothing but caricatures and stereotypes. Ferrell plays a very racist person and much of the humor is derived from his terrible view on minorities.
But this is not a sociology lesson. And you can argue that Ferrell is portrayed as an idiot completely out of touch with the entire world around him. It is not mean spirited. But it does perpetuate stereotypes and is calling out a POV that is dying.
So here’s the wrap up. If you think the movie looks good, go and see it. You will be entertained. You will laugh. You will not gain insight regarding race relations. You will be reminded multiple times that Kevin Hart is a very tiny man.
If you are not a fan of the Hart/Ferrell match up, stay away. In fact you are not even reading this because why would you care if you don’t care?