This is pretty much every buddy cop film you have ever seen. This one certainly benefits from Kevin Hart's energetic presence and his chemistry with Ice Cube is pretty good all things considered. Hart, at this stage of his film career, reminds me of Eddie Murphy when he first started. Now I'll never say that Hart is funnier than Murphy, but I'm somewhat reminded of him when I see Hart and the success he's achieved as a stand-up comic and an actor. Really, if it wasn't for him I don't think this film would've gotten the rating it did. I'm not suggesting it's great comedy, it's not even good comedy, but Hart is entertaining as this almost childlike character who's jut trying to prove that he's worth being with James' sister. Of course this reeks of sexism as the only person who really should decided if Ben is worth her time or not is actually Angela, but I suppose there was no real thought put into the actual scripting for the film, as it runs the gamut of cop film cliches. Betrayals, dirty cops, hostage situations involving one of the main character's family. You've seen it all before. This is a script that is certainly on cruise control, it's just content to let Kevin Hart go nuts in order to give the appearance that it's an inspired film, when it's anything but. Take Hart out of this film and you have a considerably worse film. Some would say you have a worse film WITH him in it. But you have to take the positives where you can find them, right? You could argue that I'm being far too generous with the rating I'm giving the film, but I was entertained by some of Hart's antics, and his chemistry with Ice Cube is fairly solid. Perhaps I was in a good mood and I'd have hated this film any other day. Perhaps saying I was entertained by Hart's antics is going too far, it's a combination of entertainment and amusement. I guess I just respect a person's willingness to do just about anything to get a laugh. Perhaps it wasn't as extreme as some others I've seen. Rob McElhenney putting on 50 pounds for a season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. There's a man who'd do anything for comedy as he pretty much put his own health at risk in order to give the show some new jokes/ideas to play with during that season. But Hart is, at the very least, very willing to make an absolute fool of himself for the sake of getting a laugh. And I respect that. Of course his schtick doesn't always work as he can become incredibly annoying when he raises his voice past its allotted range. Very screechy voice, something Ice Cube even makes reference to. Still, the guy is likable. Ice Cube is Ice Cube...the guy literally has no range as an actor. He's either moderately angry...or he's pissed off. That's all you get, but he makes for a decent straight man for all of Hart's silliness. You could tell that there were times when Ice Cube was just really trying to keep from laughing at this tiny man and how goofy he was. I bet that the gag reel is actually funnier than this film, it wouldn't surprise me in the least. The sequel has already been announced, and probably begun filming already, so I sure hope that more effort is put into that script than there was this time around. Because if it wasn't for Kevin Hart and his energetic presence, I can see myself really hating this film. Objectively speaking, this isn't a good movie by any means. It's barely even average, it's obvious this isn't meant to be taken as something more than it is. No hidden message about the human condition or social commentary, it's just a goofy buddy cop film, and for people who are into that, this film delivers the goods.