MOVIE
REVIEW: ABOUT
LAST NIGHT
02/13/2014
SYNOPSIS: A modern reimagining of the classic romantic comedy, this contemporary version closely follows new love for two couples as they journey from the bar to the bedroom and are eventually put to the test in the real world.
REVIEW: In Director Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine, 2010) knows who to focus on in this latest adaptation from the David Mamet's 1974 play, "Sexual Perversity in Chicago.” He focuses on thirty-something year old African-American singles and their navigating the dating world in contemporary society today. Kevin Hart (This is the End, 2013) artfully carries the comedy of this flick from beginning to end and did so by having an excellent rapport with on-screen love interest Regina Hall (Think like a Man, 2012). In my humble opinion, Hart is an undeniable talent who has often been ill-served in most his film roles with lackluster material, but he’s just awesome here handling hilarious, often wildly sexual explicit dialogue with Joy Bryant (Get Rich or Die Trying, 2005), Michael Ealy (Think like a man, 2012) and Regina Hall. Putting it simply, most of Hart’s dialogue is just hysterically raucous, especially the part when he pretends to be Jewish.
Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the co-stars of the film: Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant whom are very much unconvincing as a couple with their main problem seemingly having the inability to balance being in a relationship with maintaining any other interests and friends. It really begs the question: “Who cares?” I really didn’t because as they kept trying to make it work throughout the film, our attention was constantly drawn in to the parallel relationship of Hart and Hall (their BFFs Bernie and Joan) where all is well in love and war and all sparks and sparring were relatable by most contentious relationship standards.
This remake is quite possibly a winning rom-com formula destined to be at least as well remembered as its 1980’s predecessor, staring Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. And, thanks mostly to Hart and Hall’s fiery comic chemistry, it’s silly, it’s entertaining and it’s over the top funny for the most part. For Kevin Hart movie fans this release has a twist of originality to it, proving that remakes needn’t be retreads, but simply brought in to the times. I believe three and a half stars out of five is a good rating for this one simply based on the comedy between Hart and Hall. If not for the flat characters of Ealy and Bryant It could have possibly gotten a higher rating. Nevertheless, it does make for a good date-night movie for the theaters or DVD rental.
Review
By Movi-Man Stan
MORE
MOVIE REVIEWS >>>