"Central Intelligence" Film Review

Let me start by saying I didn't hate the movie but I also didn't enjoy the whole thing either. The plot was the usual mindless, rehashed, buddy-action-comedy stuff that is seen every summer. I did enjoy the fact that Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart were acting out of their own comfort zones. I do recognize and respect that and I hope they could do it again, only in a better movie.

The story follows Robbie, a fat kid in high school, and Calvin, the only one that shows compassion to Robbie. After an embarrassing prank, Robbie leaves school and forces himself to work out 6 hours a day for the next 20 years, becoming Bob Stone, an agent in the CIA. After 20 years, Calvin becomes an accountant and is married to a lawyer. Robbie and Calvin meet up one night and are hurled into a series of events that bring them closer, pit them against each other, then bring them closer again.

Let me go ahead and get this particular critique out of the way. I hated the opening with, what I refer to as, Fat Rock. It wouldn't have been so uncomfortably cheesy i they used an actual fat kid or something. But, no, they used an actual adult and CGI'd Rock's adult face on him. It was so unnatural and horrible looking and probably some of the worst CGI work I've seen.

The comedy was lacking in just about every way. I chuckled once and actually laughed maybe once or twice. That's it. The jokes just were not funny. The acting was excellent but they seemed to be trying way too hard to be funny.

In conclusion, I have to say wait until this is available to rent. It's worth one viewing but no more than that. I had read reviews of people saying they couldn't stop laughing and, honestly, I don't know what they were laughing at. Sorry, Mr. Johnson. I love your films, but this one just is not good.