Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»1483. Central Intelligence (2016)

    1483. Central Intelligence (2016)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on September 11, 2016 100-109 mins, 2016, 8 - 10, Action, Comedy, Crime, Movies Of 2016, Review, Sep 16, Thriller, United States
    8.6 So, so entertaining
    • Acting 8.6
    • Directing 8.6
    • Story 8.7
    • User Ratings (1 Votes) 8

    Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Amy Ryan

    Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber

    Running Time: 107 mins


    Central Intelligence is an American film about a former high school prom king who crosses paths with his grade’s dweeb online, who now works for the CIA. After a night on the town together, he soon becomes embroiled in a complex case with no-one he can fully trust.

    I don’t know how it happened, but I was absolutely blown away by this film. Kevin Hart’s never been my favourite comedy star, and whilst he’s a charismatic actor, Dwayne Johnson has never really shown a great range before. However, Central Intelligence blows that completely out of the water, with two hilarious central performances, surrounded by a stunningly unpredictable and exciting espionage plot, thrilling action, and one of the most entertaining movies you’ll see all year.

    Let’s start with the two men at the centre of this brilliant film. Like I said, Hart and Johnson are two actors that almost always play the same role. In Central Intelligence, Kevin Hart isn’t so different to the norm, but he pulls off some incredible chemistry with Dwayne Johnson, whose performance is utterly fantastic at every moment.

    Whilst giving off the appearance as his typically muscle-bound and charismatic self, what really impressed me about Johnson’s performance was how he brought across his character’s nerdy and shy personality. He may get into some epic fights and chases with his CIA expertise, but Johnson’s character is actually very far flung from what he normally does, and the fact that he pulls off such a different persona so convincingly was stunning to see.

    The real stand-out from the performances, however, is the chemistry between the two leads. Hart and Johnson are great on their own here, but the way that they play off of one another is the fundamental reason that this film is so full of laughs too. The plot plays a big part too, and I’ll get into that soon, but the comedy that comes from the two main actors sparring or hitting it off as best friends is always fantastic, and it makes for countless laughs throughout, adding to the entertainment factor of this amazing movie.

    However, what I was most surprised, and also impressed, by in this movie was how exciting the espionage story is. There are so many spy comedies, and even the best (Spy, Austin Powers etc.) don’t really pull off a thrilling plot. Central Intelligence, on the other hand, is a non-stop thrill ride full of unpredictability and rapid-fire action to go with its excellent comedy.

    The film centres mostly on Kevin Hart torn between trusting either Dwayne Johnson or a CIA operative played by Amy Ryan. Normally, I would expect this to be played out in the most predictable way, but this film does an incredible job at keeping you guessing as to who is on what side, and it genuinely lasts right up to the finale.

    There is one brief period where the film leans towards one party being on the good side, and it’s definitely not as enthralling, but that proved to me that it was the story and the unpredictability of the main characters’ allegiances that really made this film such an entertaining watch. Hilarious it may be, but I can guarantee that you will be stunned at how well Central Intelligence plays out its crime story from start to finish.

    Overall, I loved pretty much every moment of this movie. I wasn’t expecting much more than a fun buddy comedy, but in addition to some hugely funny comedy and brilliant performances, I got a thrilling and genuinely unpredictable espionage story that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I’m still pretty bewildered by how massively entertaining this film is, but I’m going to give Central Intelligence an 8.6.

     

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.2
    Review
    September 29, 20170

    1905. Joint Security Area (공동경비구역) (2000)

    8.5
    Review
    May 4, 20140

    547. Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)

    8.3
    Review
    March 4, 20150

    877. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

    8.0
    Review
    November 14, 20210

    3547. Coyote Ugly (2000)

    8.1
    Review
    October 26, 20180

    2326. The Hate U Give (2018)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.