'Blu-ray or Bust' - RIDE ALONG 2

'Blu-ray or Bust'

RIDE ALONG 2 (2016, PG-13, 102 minutes, UNIVERSAL PICTURES)

2014’s RIDE ALONG was a nice shot of comedy adrenaline that cinema sorely needed. The lead characters had great chemistry, and the perspective of two black cops cleaning up the streets of Atlanta could not have been handled better by any other actors.

Kevin Hart and Ice Cube (“N.W.A.”, BOYZ N THE HOOD), reuniting with director Tim Story, nearly recreate the magic that the first film so enjoyable. The only problem is that he lingers just a little too long in some places, and the editing issues distract from the comedy and action. Case in point would be the finale—too many explosions, too long of an unnecessary chase scene…for a film built upon humor that is less than subtle, you feel like Story was trying to outshine his comedic actors with a smash-bang finale that falls kind of flat.

This time around, Ben Barber (Hart) is still trying to impress his girlfriend’s brother James Payton (Cube). He wants to be a detective, and Payton doesn’t think he has what it takes. So, this time around, we get a ride-along to Miami. The south Florida hot spot is where Payton has tracked a computer nerd named “AJ” (Ken Jeong, who finally gets to act without a Korean accent), who may hold the key to a drug kingpin back in Atlanta.

Hart, my friends, is a comedic genius. Coupling that with a darn fine acting technique, nearly every scene he is in seems tailor-made to suit his style. Which, of course, clashes with Cube’s. Character wise, it makes the odd-couple pairing work. But when Hart isn’t in the scene, the tone of the film switches gears so palpably, you almost feel like you are watching a different movie. Keeping Cube as the straight man the entire film is a crime to his own comedic timing, and it is quite evident here.

Including Jeong in the mix helps breathe life into the film, making it feel fresher than it should be. But he, too, falls victim to the Hart Trap; there is a lot of talent in this film, but it is all a bit overshadowed by Little Hurricane Kevin. Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but there is a better, shorter film here somewhere.

The special features are just as inclusive and complimentary as the first film’s were, including a love letter/advertisement to Georgia (which almost seems oddly placed, considering much of the film was made in Miami). But you almost get the feeling, this time around, that too much is included. For a film that feels a bit long, you cannot quite share all of that behind-the-scenes enthusiasm. But if you are going to get this one, get it on Blu-ray; the music and action kind of demand it, as does Hart’s high-pitched screams.

Thus far, no sequel has been announced, which might be a good thing. Better to leave this as a two-film series, rather than try to come up with another reason for a ride along. Besides—Story and Cube are busy with HUMBUG, and Hart is…well, he’s Kevin Hart. He has two more films slated for release this year, and two in production now for 2017. Good to know that this is a sequel that won’t kill any careers, even if it is barely good enough to use to kill some time…

Grade: C+

Special Features: A-

Blu-ray Necessary: Recommended

-- T.S. Kummelman