GET HARD
US, 2015, 100 minutes, Colour.
Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Craig T.Nelson, Alison Brie, T.I.Harris, Edwina Findley Dickerson, Ariana Neal, Paul Ben- Victor, John Mayer.
Directed by Etan Cohen.
This is one of those American comedies which will divide audiences. Many will find it very funny and enjoy the targets and the satire. Many will be repelled by various elements, especially the treatment of race themes, homophobic themes, American class themes.
In the reviews, some writers have commented that the film is attempting realism and so its exaggerations do not work. however, this is satire and spoof, not meant to be taken literally, heightened for the sake of making the points and making the jokes. It may be that the points are not well-made as intended, and the jokes are not as funny as intended. What the screenplay seems to be doing is to taking up the stereotypes and the way they are presented in the movies: class, sexuality, violence, racism. By its pairing of the two central characters and their differences, the film is actually making many points against classes, homophobia, alleged prison violence, racism.
We know that Will Ferrell has played quite a number of idiot types in his career, especially remembering Ron Burgundy, and this is a variation on the theme. His James King, living in luxury, sexy fiancee, a benign father-in-law who makes him a partner in the firm, but caught in the many stupidities of class snobbery, doing all the trendy things including exercises, and everything that is expected of a financial adviser and executive. Actually, in his chosen sphere of finance, he is very well-educated and throughout the film has a sophisticated vocabulary and turn of phrase. But his doom, and his being manipulated await him. During his engagement party, where he tries to upstage singer John Mayer, he is arrested for fraud.
In the meantime there is Kevin Hart. In some films, like Ride Along and About Last Night, his shrieking comedy routines and in-your-face personality are fairly repellent. It was interesting to see him in The Wedding Ringer, that he could subdue the eccentricities and do a credible comic performance. And this is what he does here, playing a straightforward manager of a car-wash business, pleasant wife and daughter, no criminal background, needing $30,000 to pay off the mortgage of the home.
The race jokes start when Darnell knocks on the window of James’s car and James is afraid that he is a victim of race violence. And he advises Darnell to start saving money. But, after his arrest and his fear of prison where he is sentenced to maximum security and 10 years, he decides that he needs to prepare.
The bulk of the film and the comedy are in attempts at preparing James, and Darnell, pretending he has spent time in prison, consults his cousin, Russell, for ideas. And what ensues are a number of comic routines, according to the audience’s sense of humour or not. Darnell makes James do lots of bodybuilding and exercise, trying to get him to make Mad Dog Faces to intimidate, getting the rough and crass language that is expected to be used in prison… Then there are the allegedly popular expectations that there will be a lot of homosexual exploitation among the prisoners, so a lot of discussion, a visit to a gay restaurant where James goes to a toilet for experience but a gay man does approach Darnell who offers a sympathetic ear, and later communicates by mobile phone. To cap it all, there is a scene where Darnell takes the role of an African- American, a Hispanic and a gay prisoner, stands James in the centre while he impersonates each character and their interactions.
The preparation also involves a visit to Darnell’s home where his wife persuades Darnell to tell the story of his alleged imprisonment and he recounts the plot of The Boys in the Hood. They visit Russell and all the tough African- Americans as well as going to the headquarters of a racist white bikie gang.
Meanwhile, it is not too difficult to work out that James is innocent and who has been framing him – with a scene on a yacht where James’ training comes to full force and he and Darnell overcome the villains.
This reviewer was inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to the all the spoof and send-ups.
1. US comedy, crass style? For Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart?
2. The title, ambiguity, prison, sex?
3. Satire – politically correct, not politically-correct? Exaggerated? Spoof, the attack on targets? Racism, homophobia, class?
4. Stereotypes, going beyond them, the humour? Situations, poses, dialogue, wisecracks, jokes? The targets has the representation of the stereotypes in the movies? Sending-up the stereotypes?
5. James King, his name, waking up in luxury, everything perfect, his personal stupidity but well educated, his vocabulary and phrases, his relationship with Alissa, the sexual encounters? Naked at the window? The staff, his exercises, driving to work, smug, arrival at the office, people’s reactions? Martin praising him, offering him the partnership? The reaction of the others?
6. Setting up the contrast, Darnell, at home, his wife, daughter, taking her to school, the tough school in south Los Angeles, his needing $30,000 for the mortgage on the house?
7. The meeting between Darnell and James? The company, in the car, James being terrified, Darnell offering the car keys? The discussion? Darnell asking for $30,000? James refusing?
8. The engagement party, John Mayer, his singing, the gift of the guitar? The sudden arrest?
9. The charges, Martin reassuring him, the lawyer, in court, the judge imposing the harshest sentence?
10. The opening with James weeping, the sentence, 30 days before prison, his attempt to escape, the brace on his leg, the disguise, confronting Alissa, her
friends, her being a gold-digger, her abandoning him? His breaking the bracelet? The arrest?
11. His hiding in the boot of the car, Darnell finding him? The discussion about prison, the need for preparation, James and the statistics that one in three African Americans went to prison? Therefore Darnell? The request, agreeing to the money? Darnell and his ringing his cousin, Russell, for information about prison?
12. The days for the countdown on the screen? The staff participating in the training, enjoying roughing up James? The contract, the construction of a cell, the notices outside the mansion?
13. The sex focus, the talk, the jokes, imagining prison, the gay attacks, the lunch at the gay restaurant, going to the toilet, James willing to experiment, his reaction? Darnell and chatted up by the gay man? The serious talk, Darnell’s advice, earnest, the man contacting him and talking on the mobile phone?
14. Visual violence, his Mad Dog Faces, language, toughing it out?
15. Darnell, the role-plays, the African- American, the Hispanic, the gay prisoner and James in the centre, Darnell and his representing each character?
16. James at night, study, developing his attitudes? Sitting on the toilet and reading?
17. Darnell, his wife, the situation, his being tough, her reaction? The daughter? Inviting James to dinner? Wanting the truth – and Darnell recounting the plot from Boys in the Hood? Russell and the others recognising the story later?
18. The visit to Russell, the men, the women, the stereotypes, the reaction, James and the attraction to the girl, the sexiness? His explaining finances to them, using the computer, the interest?
19. Recommendation to visit the White gang, the bikie club, the confrontation? Suspicions that James was a cop? Darnell and his setting the fire, their escape?
20. Martin, his lawyer, playing golf, the gunman? Martin and his conspiracy? His smooth talking to James?
21. James and his disillusionment with Martin? And disillusionment with the fact that time Darnell had never been to prison? Going back to Russell, getting
the nickname Mayo, initiation, the drugs? Darnell to the rescue? Giving him the nickname Chocolate?
22. The whiteboard with Martin and all his connections, the arrows rose, Martin as villain, his island, yacht, escape plan, his daughter? The memory of the computer, dressing up as cleaners, stealing the computer, the thug catching them, their escape?
23. Speeding to the yacht, trying to get on board, falling, the other side, fighting the crew, James and his Mad Dog Faces, the knockout, his having the bracelet, threatening the police would arrive – and their arriving?
24. His being arrested with the illegal gun, six months in jail, the dance, getting out? The irony of Martin and the lawyer going to jail?
25. The new life in the future, Darnell and his car wash, enterprise and the dedication? James and his relationship and learning something of the reality of life?
