Friday, June 17, 2016

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (B-)

Riddled with as many clichés as it is bullets, this narrow-minded actioner has exactly one intelligent thing working in its favor – the brilliant pairing of Johnson and Hart.  These two lively actors – at opposing ends of the male specimen spectrum – play, to some extent, against type and prove that in the right hands even you’re-too-big/you’re-too-little, low-hanging fruit comedy can become gold.  Somewhere, in the shallow waters of the script, lies a trite tale of a CIA operative trying to save the word days before his 20 year high school reunion and…  You know what?  Who cares?!  Usually in the absence of solid storytelling I’d wage an adjective-laden assault on a film – my very own D- or even F-Day, if you will.  The effortless charm and winning chemistry between these two, however, is just too hard to dismiss.  Johnson brings a nice dose of sympathy to his goofily gung-ho, awkwardly obsessed character while Hart finds tremendous success dialing back his yippy, in-your-face antics from a shrilling ten to a toeing-the-line yet nicely balanced seven (a seven that seems to fit his character’s prissily uptight accountant like a glove).  Additionally, you’ll more than likely delight in a few high-profile, highly effective cameos.  Putting the depthless and drowsy spy vs. spy vs. spy shenanigans aside (which I don’t usually do), it’s nearly impossible not to share a myriad of laughs while giving this one a sit.  Might be a good weekend to wedge yourself between a Rock and Hart place.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart
Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber (DODGEBALL and WE’RE THE MILLERS)
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 1hr. 54min.
Story: The story follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob, who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, he enlists the help of former "big man on campus," Calvin, now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he's getting into, it's too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.
Website: www.centralintelligencemovie.com

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