Film Review - Central Intelligence (2016)

Central Intelligence is the latest in what seems like a series of buddy cop films staring Kevin Hart. This time he’s attempting to play the straight man to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s mad CIA agent.

The film tells the story of Calvin Joyner (Hart), the most popular boy in High School who 20 years later is working as an accountant and feels as though he hasn’t lived up to his potential. Out of the blue Robbie Weirdicht (Johnson) turns up, a once fat and isolated loser who Hart once showed kindness to. Now Weirdicht rippling with muscles is a CIA agent who needs Calvin’s accounting skills in order to save the world.

The plot is thin and the film lacks laughs. For the first 15 minutes the sole joke, that Weirdicht is simultaneously a geek and an action hero works a treat but when the film fails to bring anything new to the table this joke does little more than annoy and certainly outstays its welcome.

Kevin Hart is far too energetic and naturally funny to play the straight man and Johnson though always a treat to watch continues his trend of picking mediocre to poor movies.

Central Intelligence is not a complete disaster, there are a few laughs, especially at the beginning but the two likeable leads are not enough to make the last two thirds a struggle.