THE MAN FROM TORONTO (2022)

 

Directed By: Patrick Hughes  Written By: Robbie Fox and Craig Bremmer  Story By: Robbie Fox, Craig Bremmer and Jason Rosenthal  Cinematography: Rob Hardy Editor: Craig Alpert 

Cast: Kevin Hart, Woody Harrelson, Jasmine Matthews, Kaley Cuoco, Ellen Barkin, Pierson Fode, Jeancarlos Canela 

The world's deadliest assassin and New York's biggest screw-up are mistaken for each other at an Airbnb rental.

The film was originally supposed to Co-Star Jason Statham. Which would make more sense as a more dream combo. Not that woody Harrelson isn’t good. It just feels like he is a replacement. As he does what the role requires but hasn’t even known for too many action roles in quite a while.

So while his role is supposed to be more action-oriented. He only seems to use these skills on other assassins. As his character is so synonymous that he rarely has to use violence before they confess everything. Even as we know he has the finesse to actually do the things they fear. So it is more about intimidation. 

Kevin hart tries but it feels like again he is playing a similar role to most of his others. A kind of sad sack dreamer who gets motivated in the middle of the film to do what he needs to do to finally accomplish his mission and be successful. 

Though even here hart’s heart doesn’t seem as much into it. As he does create an annoying character who never seems to shut his mouth and say everything he is thinking, but again he knows he has played this type of role before and there is only so much of a variant that he can do with it.

At this point, it would be nice if Kevin Hart made a film that was just him as the star no more mismatched buddy comedies. Let him be center stage and truly make his mark. That might actually be noteworthy. As it would showcase his talents more and not seem so much like he is dependent on others to sell himself. 

The film's action scenes try to be exciting even as most characters other than the leads and bigger cast names seem disposable. They never offer any kind of challenge. As the audience knows how each situation most likely will turn out.

There are some exceptions; the airplane fight and the gym fight actually enliven the movie and are a bit easier especially after other action sequences seem to fizzle.

Just as it would have been nice for more comedic scenes where Woody Harrelson is nervous around the opposite sex and opening up around new people. Just as more could have been done when it came to the

Handsome FBI agent who Kevin hart’s character is jealous of, allowing us to see why he should be jealous would have been funnier.

Director Patrick Hughes has made some silly yet violent guilty pleasure action comedies before with THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD films. Though those were much more hardcore in language and violence. This one is played safer and PG-13 so it can only go so far and doesn’t feel like it goes far enough in some scenes. So the film Lacks bite in action and In comedy. The material just never feels that strong 

Overall if you are a Kevin hart fan you will enjoy the movie. The film just feels like the typical Netflix big-budget team-up movie with very little reason or strength in the storytelling. 

Woody Harrelson is bland here can tell he was a replacement in casting. 

The film is serviceable but not as fun as you think it will be or it could have been. As Kevin hart does his usual schtick and the material feels too familiar for all involved

Grade: C-