Ice Cube and Kevin Hart rekindle their comic chemistry in Ride Along 2, the sequel to the 2014 action-comedy Ride Along. While the smart cop/bumbling cop movie formula is all too familiar, the humor in this go-round is still centered around Hart and his shenanigans but is enhanced by an unusually diverse supporting cast that includes The Hangover’s Ken Jeong, The View’s Sherri Shepherd and Magic Mike’s Olivia Munn.
A few things have changed since we last left the reluctant duo. James (Ice Cube) is still a hardcore detective at his Atlanta precinct and Ben Barber (Hart) … well, Ben is no longer a security guard — he’s now a rookie police officer who foolishly believes he could be a detective. James is determined to make sure that never happens. But James is also crotchety over the fact that his sister Angela (Tika Sumpter) will be marrying Ben — their wedding day is fast approaching.
The movie starts with Ben flubbing up (no surprise there) a sting that James has orchestrated, which results in James’ partner (a welcome cameo by the Fast & Furious franchise’s Tyrese Gibson) getting shot. Despite the botched sting, a clue is discovered that leads to a computer hacker in Miami named A.J. (a nerdy, somewhat amusing Ken Jeong) who may be connected to the drug kingpin (Benjamin Bratt) they are seeking. James agrees to bring Ben to Miami so he can prove to him once and for all that he’s not cut out for law enforcement. From there you can expect nonstop bantering (try to count how many times Ben says “James”), a ridiculous foot chase (Hart falling into a chicken coop is for real, no acting needed in that scene), a pretty cool car chase (compliments of Grand Theft Auto) and one don’t-you-dare-do-that nacho moment.
To offset the testosterone, Olivia Munn stars as a Miami-based detective with “big hands” and some serious soft-tissue manipulation skills (yes, you’ll need to see the movie to figure out what that means). Sherri Shepherd surprises as a funny, ball-busting wedding planner who fails to care about or listen to any of Ben’s wishes despite his constant reminders that most of his ideas are on Pinterest. Shepherd and Jeong both give the film some added comic relief. The familiar format (for some) offers enough laughs to keep Kevin Hart and Ice Cube fans entertained.
Ride Along 2 is available beginning April 26 on Video On Demand. Check your cable system for availability.
© 2015 Universal Studios Credit: Quantrell D. Colbe
