Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Danielle Nicolet
Storyline
After he reunites with an old school pal through Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into the world of international espionage.
Writers: Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Danielle Nicolet, Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Amy Ryan, Danielle Nicolet, Aaron Paul, Ryan Hansen, Tim Griffin, Timothy John Smith, Sione Kelepi, Dylan Boyack, Thomas Kretschmann, Megan Park, Slaine, Annie Kerins, Nate Richman, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Cast: Dwayne Johnson -
Bob Stone
Kevin Hart -
Calvin Joyner
Amy Ryan -
Agent Pamela Harris
Danielle Nicolet -
Maggie
Aaron Paul -
Phil
Ryan Hansen -
Steve
Tim Griffin -
Agent Stan Mitchell
Timothy John Smith -
Agent Nick Cooper
Sione Kelepi -
Young Robbie
Dylan Boyack -
Trevor - 17 Years Old
Thomas Kretschmann -
The Buyer
Megan Park -
Waitress
Slaine -
Thugged Out
Annie Kerins -
Lady MC
Nate Richman -
Big Bro
Taglines:
Saving the world takes a little Hart and a big Johnson
Trivia:
This will be the first movie to star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart. See more »
User Review
Author:
Rating:
A comedy crime film has a dual burden: being funny and suspenseful at
the same time. Central Intelligence tries to be both and succeeds some
of the time, mostly on the comedic side. Surprisingly, its thematic
elements about bullying and humans reaching potential elevate the film
above quips and slapstick.
Bob (Dwayne Johnson) and Calvin (Kevin Hart), former high school chums,
get involved 20 years later in a haphazard investigation of a secret
government activity that involves foreign spies and questionable US
agents. The challenge of determining who is good and who is bad is
middlin' but entertaining.
Their friendship goes back to when Calvin, the "Golden Jet," was the
most likely to succeed senior and Bob the obese object of bullying;
their hookup now before the reunion provides a chance for the director,
Rawson Marshall Thurber, and his writers to run a theme about "what
have you done with your life?" Calvin feels as an accountant he has not
reached the heights his early accomplishments promised, despite the
fact that he married the best female in the class, who became a
successful attorney.
Bob, on the other hand, has grown from a fat boy into, well, the "The
Rock," with marvelous muscles, a world-class smile, exuberance, and a
job with the CIA. That he still idolizes Calvin is a questionable
obsession until we figure out a couple of the reasons. Overall Bob
seems to have a more balanced life.
The comedic parts are sometimes of a higher order, for instance, when
Calvin explains he doesn't do therapy because he's Black, goes to the
barbershop, and watches Barbershop movies. The largely African-American
audience at my screening enjoyed the stereotyping.
Central Intelligence has numerous stock jokes and situations for the
buddy comedy, especially the mixed races and the little man paired with
a veritable giant (think Wilder and Pryor, Gibson and Glover, and
Murphy and Nolte for the races)... One thing is for sure, Kevin Hart
and Dwayne Johnson are an intelligent comedy team, which should be
central to our summer enjoyment for years to come.
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