GET HARD DVD (2015)

SYNOPSIS: When millionaire hedge fund manager James King (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell Lewis (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Ferrell’s brand of comedy has gone from fresh to formulaic over the years and seriously its time he revamp himself. Get Hard marks the first collaboration between funnyman Will Ferrell and the up-and-coming Kevin Hart known for his stand-up comedy and alongside Ice-Cube in Ride Along.   

It’s a new pairing all right but does it qualifies for a funny good time?

Ferrell plays a naïve millionaire fund manager, James King. He lives in a big house in Beverly Hills and is about to marry a hot woman, the daughter (Alison Brie) of his boss (Craig T. Nelson) to be exact. Darnell Lewis (Hart) on the hand is the exact opposite of King. He runs a small carwash business and hopes to earn enough to move his family out of the ghetto for the sake of his young daughter. When King is being framed for embezzlement later on, he hire Darnell hoping that the latter can toughen him up for his time in prison not knowing that Darnell has never even been to prison.

On paper, Get Hard looks like godsend comedy material. And knowing that it’s being written and helmed by Etan Cohen (a screenwriter behind Beavis and Butt-head, King of the Hill, Tropic Thunder), you expect something more or should I add, clever. Unfortunately, there’s very little going on, a constant repetition of prison rape jokes, homophobic references and an uncomfortable fellatio scene are the highlights. We can’t help laughing out loud at how Kevin Hart’s character describing how’s its liked being butt raped to an innocent James King. However this is not a 10 minutes skit on SNL, this is a full-length feature. We need more laughs and gags other than Darnell drilling King to get hard.

Race is also a major component in the movie with constant jabbing at stereotypes. If not done right, racial jokes can be offensive and in this case the movie makes fun of everyone not any race in particular. White is dubbed Mayo and Black is Chocolat. It’s mostly silly and ridiculous. Rapper Tip “T.I.” Harris (Ant-Man) even makes an appearance as Darnell’s badass cousin, Russell.

There’s nothing wrong with Ferrell and Hart’s chemistry. Ferrell is pretty restrained right here though he did flashed his pasty white butt in the beginning and Hart is at his usual perky high self. Get Hard apparently lacks the challenge both comedians need. It’s simply a lazy attempt with the gags wearing out its welcome even before the credits rolled. 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Just 3 minutes of Gag Reel. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

Colours and skintones are natural. The surround audio track is engaging and packs a wallop when the action on screen gets rowdy. Other than that, dialogue is clear and solid. 

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee