Central Intelligence

Image credit: Walmart

I don’t think anyone’s getting sick of the buddy comedy any time soon. It’s the perfect genre for showcasing comedic talent, telling heartwarming stories, and trying weird casting blends that can either make wonderful music or completely blow up in your face. While they’re not always –if ever- the cleverest or most groundbreaking films to hit the screen, there’s some enjoyment to be taken from them and now that streaming services make access to them so easy you can indulge in the guilty, mindless pleasures of them without worrying about being too out-of-pocket.

That’s just what I did this afternoon with Central Intelligence. The film tells the story of Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) a man ten years of out high school and not happy with the man he’s settled in to. Already dreading his upcoming school reunion Calvin’s life is thrown into sharper perspective when an old classmate (Dwayne Johnson) gets in touch. Calvin is amazed as Bob Stone –once the overweight target for the school bullies- has transformed into a buff and intimidating man. Not only that he works for the CIA and needs Calvin’s help on a mission.

I think what I liked most about this movie was that it wasn’t your typical enemies becoming friends character arc that shapes so many buddy flicks. Neither was it about two friends who had known each other forever. Aside from a single nice act ten years ago the two leads don’t really know each other and the film is about this friendship that forms between them through a series of dangerous and extreme events. Both characters go through their own personal developments, overcoming inner problems and whatnot and the film keeps its audiences a little on the edge with questions as to whether Bob is really who he says he is. Alongside the buddy theme is the cop-com theme with one pro and one inept, which supplies the film with a lot of its comedy.

Johnson and Hart spar off of each other really well –almost in energy sync with each other, as one remains calm while the other freaks out and visa versa. Hart’s performance is funny during its more dramatic moments and relatively down to earth during the story’s build-up. In comparison Johnson is bouncing off the walls like a brommie on V: never really letting his character settle, which is fun but also kind of annoying as it sometimes feels put-on and we never really get a sense of who this guy is until right at the very end.

Image credit: The Globe and Mail

Alongside the action-packed storyline and anti-bullying messages –which is nicely not restricted to campus or to just body-shaming- the film’s got a cute and rather funny script that makes a lot of contemporary references as well as engages in a guilty little bit of nostalgia.

While it’s not a brilliant movie and didn’t result in me laughing out loud there is still something enduring and enjoyable about it in a fun and mindless popcorn flick way.

Starring: Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet, Aaron Paul, Ryan Hansen, Tim Griffin, Timothy John Smith, and Jason Bateman