Rating of
2/4
Average 'Intelligence'
Unknown - wrote on 06/25/16
'Central Intelligence' sees the comedic team-up of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart. This pairing turns out to be a fun one. Both men play off of each other to great effect. Johnson in particular is the standout. His outlandishness feed into his wacky super-spy character's abilities. Hart is more restrained than usual, making a solid counterpoint. Their budding friendship doesn't feel forced. It becomes the focal point of the movie, leading to some sweet moments. None cary an emotional weight but the attempt is appreciated. A positive message about overcoming negative self-identity associated with bullying is also seen through to completion. Again, not much depth, but still appreciated. Everything else in the film that surrounds the two leads and their good intentions is the definition of mediocre. The rest of the cast is just there to deliver lines, the jokes are hit-or-miss, and the needlessly confusing spy plot is forgettable background nonsense. All of the later reveals are plainly telegraphed early on. No surprises found. That said, I had a few good laughs and was entertained for most of it. Johnson and Hart really did elevate the material which made for some fun.
