Kevin Hart: What Now? Movie Review

It's been a while since I wrote a movie review so what better way to return to the game than to share my thoughts on Kevin Hart's What Now.  After all, I'm actually a Kevin Hart fan and love how he generates laughs by saying what we are all thinking out loud.  His sarcastic approach has more than become his style, it is a formula that his audience can relate to.  That said, I still had my reservations about What Now; mostly because I was not a huge fan of Let Me Explain.

I felt like Let Me Explain was forced with Kevin referencing familiar material.  He had a few strong moments, but I eventually felt like I was laughing simply because it was Kevin Hart.

What Now? is a different animal.



The opening action sequences featuring actors such as Don Cheadle and Halle Berry were inconsistently funny.  About the only thing that brought on the laughs was the over-the-top language people used during their tirades with Kevin.  I will be the first to admit, it was pretty funny watching the beautiful and accomplished Halle Berry cussing at Kevin's 0045 persona and Don Cheadle's last words from off camera were priceless as well.  Otherwise the opening action sequence felt a little dragged out.  Fortunately, I'm just an impatient person and what felt like 30 minutes to me was more like 8 minutes in reality.  In a way, the 0045 short did build a bit of anticipation, but probably not the way producers and writers intended.  The resounding mood in the screening auditorium was mostly "Lets get on with it."

Once Kevin Hart hit the stage it was obvious he was on a mission to deliver the hardest laughs ever for a recorded comedy event.  So that said, I'll get to the point of this review.

I laughed my ass off!!!

As a fan of stand-up comedy I have a very short list of memorable comedy moments from my lifetime that include binge listening to old Richard Pryor albums as a high school junior, Bill Cosby's Damnit and Jesus Christ bit, sneak watching Eddie Murphy Raw in the late 80s on VHS and the debut of Def Comedy Jam.  After experiencing What Now? my list of great comedy moments has a new tenant and one that deserves a place among the greatest performances in modern history.  Now, I am not saying Kevin Hart is now the G.O.A.T. of all comedians, I'm just saying this performance deserves to be recognized as one of the best ever.  If comedians could win championships for live shows, he gets to hoist the trophy on this one.

If you need a good laugh, go see this movie!  You will not be disappointed.  Just be patient with the opening sequence.  Use that time to make sure you have properly hydrated and have plenty of clearance in front of you for bending over laughing because after he goes up the elevator shaft, it's over!

-J

Disclaimer: Steve is an employee of Turner Broadcasting, a division of Time Warner, however the views expressed in this post are of my own.