By Darlene Donloe
Kevin Hart is a
funny dude.
As comedians go,
he’s at the top of his game. Not only
that, he broke a record. In August 2015, he actually sold out Lincoln Federal
Field, a football stadium, in Philadelphia,
That being said,
his latest stand up film, Kevin Hart:
What Now?, directed by Leslie Small and Tim Story, isn’t quite the gut-buster
this fan has come to expect. It opened
today in theaters nationwide.
The film's title is
taken from Hart’s 2015 tour. Reportedly, because
Hart has achieved comedic and financial success, he’s always being asked the
question, What Now?
The comedy is bad, but it isn't great either. It’s hard
to get worked up over “bits” you’ve already seen and heard on various talk
shows. That was a let down. It’s probably because the film was shot a year ago,
so the material is a bit weathered.
However, the
clever opening and closing helped to redeem the presentation, but only
slightly.
The film’s
opening featured comedic turns from Academy Award winner Halle Berry, Don
Cheadle and Ed Helms. Berry shows some
real comedic chops in a James Bond 007 send up.
Hart’s strength
is his ability to tell a story. His timing is incredible and his delivery is
masterful. The material is usually
worthy, but it’s more impactful when it’s fresh.
Kevin Hart and Halle Berry
No one is spared
in Hart’s barbs. In What Now he rips his own son, his then fiancée (now wife)
and a slew of friends. The show is
enhanced by a giant video screen upstage that includes various elements to
bolster his stories. For instance, when he quips about his son taking out the
trash in the dark, a video of Hart’s driveway is displayed. It’s a nice touch.
Kevin Hart has conquered
several genres in the entertainment world – movies, television, standup. The question really is, What Now?
Kevin Hart: What Now? is directed by Leslie
Small and Tim Story. It’s written by Hart, Harry Ratchford and Joey Wells. It
stars Hart, Cheadle, Berry and Helms.
Kevin Hart: What Now? is Rated R. Running Time is: 1h 36m.
On
the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O
(OK) and E (excellent), Kevin Hart: What
Now? gets an O (OK).
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