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BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Night School (2018) in Movies
Oct 15, 2018
Funny...enough - especially the classmates
Both Kevin Hart and Tiffany Hadish are comedic performers that can wear their welcome out if they are not reigned in properly. They both serve best as the comic "2nd banana" of a film, rather than the lead, so it was with some trepidation that I checked out the Hart/Haddish starring comedy NIGHT SCHOOL and when the first meeting of the two was the both of them running their very fast mouths at each other, I thought - for sure - that they would wear their welcome out with me.
But a funny thing happened on the way to Night School - the focus of this film veered away from these two bantering with each other and settled into a fairly funny, fairly innocuous comedy that I walked away liking.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (GIRLS TRIP), Night School stars Hart as a High School drop-out who is now a motor-mouthed salesman who loses his job and just might lose his girl if he doesn't go back and get his GED so he can land a new job. Haddish stars as the teacher of the Night School. Both the leads are used sparingly enough that they were enjoyable participants in this film.
But for me, the strength of this film comes in the rogues gallery of comedians that were brought in to play the other students in the Night School. Rob Riggle, Mary-Lynn Rajskub, Romany Malco, Fat Joe and Al Madrigal are all winning and comforting strengths of this film as the adult "Breakfast Club" that fall under the spell - and direction - of Hart's character. It is a group that I loved spending time with and wouldn't mind spending more time with.
And I'm glad they are there for the Direction, plot twists and other characters are all pretty predictable, but they made it an enjoyable enough romp that I fall on the side of recommending it - especially if you are looking for a mindless comedy that will NOT require you to break into a discussion group afterward. A good "Netflix", rental or rainy afternoon on TBS comedy.
Letter Grade: B-
6 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the BankofMarquis
But a funny thing happened on the way to Night School - the focus of this film veered away from these two bantering with each other and settled into a fairly funny, fairly innocuous comedy that I walked away liking.
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (GIRLS TRIP), Night School stars Hart as a High School drop-out who is now a motor-mouthed salesman who loses his job and just might lose his girl if he doesn't go back and get his GED so he can land a new job. Haddish stars as the teacher of the Night School. Both the leads are used sparingly enough that they were enjoyable participants in this film.
But for me, the strength of this film comes in the rogues gallery of comedians that were brought in to play the other students in the Night School. Rob Riggle, Mary-Lynn Rajskub, Romany Malco, Fat Joe and Al Madrigal are all winning and comforting strengths of this film as the adult "Breakfast Club" that fall under the spell - and direction - of Hart's character. It is a group that I loved spending time with and wouldn't mind spending more time with.
And I'm glad they are there for the Direction, plot twists and other characters are all pretty predictable, but they made it an enjoyable enough romp that I fall on the side of recommending it - especially if you are looking for a mindless comedy that will NOT require you to break into a discussion group afterward. A good "Netflix", rental or rainy afternoon on TBS comedy.
Letter Grade: B-
6 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the BankofMarquis
Gareth von Kallenbach (965 KP) rated Night School (2018) in Movies
Jul 2, 2019
Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart) appears to be living a great life. He is successful BBQ grill salesman, he has a Porsche, a nice apartment and a loving and successful girlfriend, Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke). Appearances can be deceiving however. The between the Porsche and rent payments he is barely getting by pay check to pay check. Plus he refuses to let his girlfriend pay for any of their dates. Teddy thinks he is turning a corner when his boss tells him that the BBQ grill store will be turned over to him once he retires. Finally he feels like he will have some stability and decides to propose Lisa. During the proposal, at the store that will one day will be his, there is an explosion and the entire store is destroyed. Now Teddy finds himself is out of a job and with no diploma there is little hope of him getting one. Teddy’s friend Marvin (Ben Schwartz) tells him that he can get him a job as a financial assistant but only if he can get his GED. So he heads back to his old high school to take a GED prep course at night school. Thinking he can use his salesman skill to talk his way into cruising to getting his diploma. Unfortunately for him two things stand in his way. One is the principle is his high school nemesis, Stewart (Taran Killam). The second, the night school teacher, Carrie (Tiffany Haddish), will only help those who put in the work and his smooth talk won’t work on this teacher. Now for the first time in his life, Teddy can’t talk his way out of a tough situation and must put in the work to stay with Lisa.
This film surprised me in that not only does it bring the laughs but also has a really positive message. It has a recurring theme of second chances throughout the film. It also tackles learning disabilities in a really interesting and thoughtful way. I thought that yes at times it was cheesy but really stuck to the message of it’s never too late to realize your potential.
This Malcolm D Lee (Girls Trip, The Best Man) directed film definitely has it funny moments. Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish really know how to play off each other, even though I think the back and forth gets a little old by the end. To me the supporting cast (Al Madrigal, Rob Riggle, Romany Malco, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Anne Winters, to name a few) really do a good job and all have really funny moments. The best parts of the movie are when the Hart, Haddish and company are in school playing off each other. The film does repeat some jokes a little too much for me but overall laughed and like the positive message. I liked the originality of the story, even if its themes felt familiar. This may not win any awards but it was an enjoyable and entertaining comedy.
This film surprised me in that not only does it bring the laughs but also has a really positive message. It has a recurring theme of second chances throughout the film. It also tackles learning disabilities in a really interesting and thoughtful way. I thought that yes at times it was cheesy but really stuck to the message of it’s never too late to realize your potential.
This Malcolm D Lee (Girls Trip, The Best Man) directed film definitely has it funny moments. Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish really know how to play off each other, even though I think the back and forth gets a little old by the end. To me the supporting cast (Al Madrigal, Rob Riggle, Romany Malco, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Anne Winters, to name a few) really do a good job and all have really funny moments. The best parts of the movie are when the Hart, Haddish and company are in school playing off each other. The film does repeat some jokes a little too much for me but overall laughed and like the positive message. I liked the originality of the story, even if its themes felt familiar. This may not win any awards but it was an enjoyable and entertaining comedy.