Kevin Hart is the gift that keeps on giving.
Night School marks over 40 movies the actor/comedian has been in. In this film, Hart goes back to his original form of situational humor.
Playing alongside Hart is breakout actress Tiffany Haddish. After first getting her start in TV shows such as “The Carmichael Show” and “If Loving You Is Wrong,” the 38 year-old actress has now been in two leading roles, with her first, Girls Trip, last year.
Directed by Malcom D. Lee (Girls Trip), Hart plays Teddy, a street-smart salesman who doesn’t get his high school diploma due to his ego. However, he soon finds out the importance of education once he hits rock bottom and is forced to get his GED. That’s where he meets the night school teacher Carrie, who turns out to be Teddy’s match.
The goal for him was to get his GED, but along the way, he learns the true purpose of education.
Hart and Haddish are surrounded by a veteran cast of comedians, such as Taran Killam (“Saturday Night Live”), Rob Riggle (The Hangover), and Ben Schwartz (“Parks and Recreation”). The ensemble is full of seasoned veterans that do a good job of supporting the two stars.
However, the film constrains their comedic performance. There are parts where the laugh is drug out, to a point where it isn’t funny anymore. It doesn’t help that the screenplay is scattered with no real investment of characters.
The chemistry between the two comedy specialists, Hart and Haddish, seems like a great pairing on paper, but the two don’t seem to bounce off one another as expected.
There are sparks of laughter, which is expected with Kevin Hart, but the biggest issue is consistency. The movie has a high point but then lags for a couple of scenes. The true art of comedy is having chemistry rather than just adding big names, but this film took the latter route.
Along with the film’s over-the-top comedy, it addresses and brings light to certain topics such as the GED program. As someone who received a GED diploma, the movie’s portrayal of the test and those who take it is accurate.
Overall, the movie has some good moments, a hilarious ensemble and sends a great message of perseverance and commitment. But its potential wasn’t reached, with a scattered story and a lack of consistency.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures