Movie Review - Ride Along 2

Ride Along 2 ** (out of 5) (PG-13) If you saw the first one from a couple of years ago, you know exactly what to expect from this cop/buddy comedy starring Kevin Hart and Ice Cube as polar opposite personalities stuck with each other on another case. Hart has become a probationary officer, and is about to marry Ice Cube’s sister (gorgeous Tika Sumpter, greatly increasing the suspension-of-disbelief requirements for all), further wearing on what’s left of his nerves. As before, Hart’s incessant, clueless chatter and overzealous attempts to help cause chaos before turning out as such comedies must before we’re free to resume our lives. Everything follows formula from the first, except for a bigger budget (thus allowing fine upscale Miami locations and accouterments), and a lamer script from a new team of writers.

Fans of the first likely won’t be deterred by the usual degree of sequel dropoff. Those who think a little of Hart’s high-octane style goes a long way would be better off with any of the comedies he’s elevated with smaller roles like Drillbit Taylor, some of the Scary Movie installments, or The 40-Year-Old Virgin, to name a few. Funny dude without a doubt, but his rapid-fire patter can make me like Danny Glover’s character in the Lethal Weapon flicks - getting too old....

(1/15/16)