I had such high hopes for Get Hard. With me being such a big fan of both Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell, I thought for sure that this movie was going to be a riot. It also boasted a pretty impressive supporting cast too with the likes of Alison Brie, Craig. T Nelson, rapper T.I, and Edwina Findley. While it is not a horrible movie, this is not one of my favorite movies that stars either Will Ferrell or Kevin Hart.
How to Download Get Hard
Get Hard was released on March 27, 2015. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice. If you want to see more of Kevin Hart, check him out in Scary Movie 3 (2003), Ride Along (2014), Central Intelligence (2016), or Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017). Will Ferrell’s fans, on the other hand, need to see him in Elf (2003), Talladega Nights (2006), Daddy’s Home (2015), or Barbie (2023).
The Movie Review
The thing about Get Hard is that if you do not like the usual schtick of Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell, this movie is your worst nightmare! They are both doing what they usually do and on paper, that is something I should love, but I kind of just “liked” this movie. That is not a terrible thing, however, if I am in the mood for a Will Ferrell or Kevin Hart movie chances are I will probably not fire this up.
The Premise
The premise of the movie is great and I remember seeing a few trailers for this before it released and it looked great. Will Ferrell plays the role of James, a hedge fund manager and he just so happens to be engaged to his boss Martin’s daughter Alissa. On the surface, James has it all, lots of money, a good job, a pretty wife, but then it all comes crashing down!
The FBI’s Surprise
The FBI crash James and Alissa’s engagement party! They arrest James for embezzlement and he is looking at ten years in prison! James is adamant that he did not commit this crime, but he is sentenced anyway and the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. As you would expect, James is freaked out big time about the thought of spending ten years in prison.
The Unlikely Mentor
James has kind of befriended a guy called Darnell who washes his car. James assumes that because Darnell is black, he has been to prison and he hires him to toughen him up so that he can face what prison is going to be like. The way that James has these pretty racist assumptions about Darnell is funny and done in that typical Will Ferrell awkward style.
Darnell’s Motivation
Darnell has never actually been to prison before and is just a normal guy trying to make money so he, his wife, and their daughter can have a better life. He agrees to take this job as the 30 grand he is getting will be enough to move his daughter to a nicer school. Of course, all of the stuff that Darnell teaches James are ridiculous things that he has seen in movies! It is kind of funny that Darnell’s preconceptions of what prison will be like are actually very similar to what James is.
Final Verdict
On paper, Get Hard should be a slam dunk for me and while it does have some amusing moments it feels like it never quite clicked with me. Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell are great, but there is just something missing here as far as the chemistry goes. It is not bad, but at the same time, it is not great either.
I just recently picked up the Blu-Ray of this to watch again for the first time since I saw it in theatres and honestly, my opinion has not changed. Get Hard is a decent comedy and one that is sure to give you a few laughs. However, I have seen far better comedies from both these guys and I am not sure I would probably watch this one again now that I think about it.
