Kevin Hart’s face has been appearing all over Netflix recently, now he is back with the comedy The Man From Toronto.
Recently Hart has been doing a lot of work. There was Fatherhood, which had a lot of warmth and heart to it, then we had a semi-biographical film called True Story. Both films weren't incredible but they allowed Kevin Hart to showcase the range that he has. Now, Hart is back with his latest film which is probably one of the weaker films he has down to late.
The Man from Toronto is essentially an action comedy. We are presented with two very likable actors in the lead roles. We see Woody Harrelson play a type of hitman that is well known in the criminal world for his interrogation techniques. While Hart plays the character Teddy, who is showcased as a huge failure. Teddy lost his job just before his wife's birthday and then tries to make up for it.
Teddy is mistaken for the Man from Toronto, which then makes up the backbone of this film. Everything takes place in a series of plot points that are put together in a very random sequence to get the view from A to B.
Overall, this is quite a silly film, which should be a lot of fun to watch, yet it's not. The action sequences are boring, with consequences that feel like they were copied from the Rush Hour film. There is no denying that this has been marketed as a comedy film, yet the film relies so heavily on slapstick humour that the jokes don't always land correctly.
Hart is known for being a funny actor, and he is doing his trademark funny character. Yet the writing and the character just don’t work, therefore, he isn't as funny as maybe he ought to be. Alongside that, Hart and Harrelson aren’t a duo that seem to do well together. On paper, it may sound good but in reality, this pairing feels a bit awkward and saleable. Also felt as if Harrelson could have pushed his characterisation a little bit more.
A lot of things in this film don't make a lot of sense and makes the film feel dated. Such as Teddy's fitness ideas, they all feel like they have been pulled out of the 90s. Combined with the stale handout of place performances and genetic character arcs, this feel leaves a lot to be desired. The Man From Toronto, on paper, should be like a winning film, yet when you watch it, it disappoints. This film films like it was written for the 90s, and it is a shame that the jokes just don't land right.
Maybe Hart should take better consideration the projects he wants to take on. Instead of agreeing to anything and everything.
Performance | 3.2/5 |
Enjoyment | 2.3/5 |
Overall Rating | 2.5/5 |