Guy wants girl. Guys gets girl who is way out of his league. Guy gets engaged but does not have a best man. So what does he do? Call Kevin Hart! Sounds random? Of course not! Hart plays Jimmy Callahan, a man who owns a business that provides a best man (himself) to any groom who needs one.
The film is obviously capitalizing on the success of Bridesmaids and hopes to be a hit comedy early next year. The film also has a bit of a Wedding Crashers vibe. So the question is this: does it stand out or is it a rip-off. Opinions will vary, but one thing is undeniable: this film is funny. The physical humor is surprising and far more effective than I thought it would be. This is where the movie's gold lies. The one-liners aren't poorly written but are hit and miss (more misses for my taste).
The film also tries to tell a story, but it goes through the motions. It tries to build an authentic friendship with Hart and Gad. And while they work well together, their arc is average and feels thrown in there to give the story more weight. It's not poorly written, but it feels inauthentic. Even though this isn't a drama, its chance to earn its heart was missed.
And with the recent hot streak of film successes that Hart and Gad have, I won't be surprised if they make a sequel. Gad and Hart actually attended the screening I went to and Gad joked that their next movie was a remake of Rush Hour. These guys aren't quite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, but they have a chemistry that Hollywood can bank on.
