Review of Central Intelligence (2016) by Thomas P — 02 Aug 2016

The two main tropes of a buddy cop film as mainly a comedy that was finalized in the 80s are chemistry and comic. But there are mini tropes that subsequent films tends to reuse and recycle in a different usage as clichés, with enough amount to be considered predictable that's commonly criticized. Or that the main tropes are rather the main focus when delivering it. "Central Intelligence" is the latest addition to the line, staring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kevin Hart still being paired up with well-known actors to boost up his already-grown career.

The source of a one-sided, mutual friendship came upon a one-time deed between a bullied geek and the most popular guy in school. As the high school reunion inches closer, the two's career paths took a role reversal in the 20-year span as the former geek Bob (Johnson) is a CIA agent on a claimed top secret mission enlisting the trustworthy help of the former jock, now a timid accountant Calvin (Hart). Before he knew what he got himself into, Calvin became Bob's partner in the mission that has no exit but to face the increasing unpredictability and escalating action.

The premise done the trope of taking an accountant away from the desk, while paired with a crazed, but morally intellectual agent that increases the former's senses through the outer experiences on the uncharted field. The development seen in the beginning provided a depth to the two characters' identities that would recurs and acts as furthered, or seemingly hindered - to Bob's character being the core of the weirdness - development. But when that's aside clears up for a convoluting plot that's beneficial to predictable twists on who's the culprit, with smart stalling for guessing that relates to one in the middle. So the mini tropes that would be seen as predictability-fueled clichés were acceptably recycled into different turns that works.

Just like it was seen in the previews, the buddy chemistry between Johnson and Hart coasted through the contents while already sold the film with genuine charm and laughter combined. When seeing the film, Hart is the hilarious reaction to Johnson's fast-paced action-packed and unpredictable wits, as well displaying the friendship they'd bonded through the film in their well-matched chemistry.

"Central Intelligence" attempted a few different methods to divert in confusion from predictability in the reuses of recycled tropes, while its main asset is the well-matched pair of big Johnson and little Hart to be the souls of the film's aspects through really funny comedy and fast-paced action. You'll mostly have fun watching it with some minor surprises hidden in the cast. (B+).