Studio: Universal (1 hr. 44 min.)
Plot: Further adventures of the Brother’s In-Laws.
Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter, Ken Jeong, Olivia Munn, Benjamin Bratt, Bruce McGill, Sherri Shepard, Carlos Gomez
Rating: PG-13
Bottom Line: **
By Laurence Washington
Admittedly, I didn’t see the first “Ride Along (’14),” but I suspect it must have been a pretty good picture since it earned $135 million. However, I can’t recommend spending $10- $14 to see “Ride Along 2” – unless you’re willing to contribute to Universal Studios multi billion-dollar empire.
To be fair, there are a few chuckles in “Ride Along 2,” most of which are Ken Jeong as a criminal hacker and Ice Cube’s constant signature scowls at Kevin Hart’s antics. That being said, 30 minutes into the film, Hart’s hyper-driven shenanigans become an overdose, making the cast and the audience desperate to find any semblance of a plot to move the movie forward.
The film’s premise has Ben (Kevin Hart) eager to prove that he can be a detective like his soon to be badass brother-in-law James (Ice Cube). The pair travel from Atlanta to Miami to investigate suspected drug trafficker/model businessman Antonio Pope (Benjamin Bratt). James hopes the intense police work will convince Ben he’s not suited to be on the force. Naturally, James’ plan sets up a series of misadventures, i.e. car chases, explosions and forgettable one-liners.
“Ride Along 2” is a mixture of “Lethal Weapon” and “Rush Hour,” so the action/comedy covers a lot of familiar territory. It would have been nice to be fooled and shown something new – something we haven’t seen before. Ben, however, picks up a love interest along the way, smoking hot Miami detective Olivia Munn who is Ben’s equal in the ass-kicking department.
As a made-for-TV movie or video on demand, “Ride Along 2” would have been a much more enjoyable film in the comfort of your home. With obscene ticket prices and braving the crowded theaters, your money would be better spent revisiting “Star Wars” (assuming you’ve already seen it once.)
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Publisher’s note: I listened to Ice Cube on the radio recently. It was my first time. I was very impressed by the way he handled himself when speaking about making sure that others are taken care of and not advantage of. He said it was important to love people.
This article was printed in the January 24, 2105 – February 6, 2016
