RIDE ALONG (review)

Review by Benn Robbins

I am pretty sure Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, won’t be winning any Academy Awards at next years Oscars. It will, however, be sure to entertain any theater-goer who chooses to see this action-comedy directed by Tim Story.

Story, the director behind the Fantastic Four franchise, is no stranger to action films. Nor is he unversed in comedies, as we have seen in 2004s Barbershop or 2005s Taxi.

Ride Along is both action packed and funny as hell.

I have to admit I went into this film not knowing what to expect. I hadn’t seen a film with Ice Cube in it since 1995s Higher Learning and I couldn’t tell you who Kevin Hart was until I looked him up on IMDB.

That being said I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and definitely entertained. Ice Cube and Hart had some really great comedic chemistry and timing.

Ice Cube plays, Atlanta Police detective, James Payton, a serious, gritty, seasoned law officer who seemingly always gets his man. Kevin Hart is his is soon to be brother-in-law, Ben Barber. He is an enthusiastic, motivated, though somewhat hapless gamer, who happens to be dating Payton’s beautiful sister, Angela, played by Tika Sumpter. After being accepted into the Police Academy, Ben looks to be accepted by her brother. Ben tells him he will do anything to show James he is worthy of both Angela’s love and James’ respect.

Comedy ensues, when James decides to take Ben along with him for a day of actual police work.

Chaos, mayhem, and hilariousness result.

Harkening to action comedy films that have preceded it, director, Story balances the genres well and never slows its pace. Never sacrificing one for the other the film uses the action as a catalyst for the comedy and vice versa. Both Cube and Hart shine in a very 48 Hrs kind of way. The supporting cast featuring John Leguizamo and Laurence Fishburne are great as well.

I don’t know what to say about this film without spoiling all the funny. I will say that something that actually flipped me out was seeing a film with an ACTUAL opening credits sequence. Used to introduce Ice Cube’s Det. Peyton character and set up the under-plot, it was refreshing to see someone utilize an opening credit sequence like they used to in the 80’s action films this film properly pays homage to.

Go see Ride Along.

I never thought I would recommend it but here we are, me telling you to go see it. I hope you enjoy it.

Like I said initially this isn’t going to win any major awards for acting or story but dammit it is funny and fun to watch and sometimes films should be allowed to do that.