So this is a behind-the-scenes view, taken I think on the two recent stand-up specials from both gents. Honestly we haven't finished watching this, and not sure we will. The music and footage/editing have a vibrant feel but the material itself is not too scintillating or revelatory. And I just read a review about the goat ending, and um yeah that feels like Hart in creative control.
Chris Rock's special was a pretty amazing rhetorical study of a calculated response to a quick horrible impulsive moment. Hell even Chappelle's recent special was largely a recoil to the damn slap. I'm still kind of amazed that Will Smith has not just been flat out renounced by everyone, although I know Chappelle tried to be an ambassador there.
Anyways that was not covered in here from what I've seen. My take from this is that Chris Rock is a genuinely funny dude (and I liked the insights from his brother on Chris), while Kevin Hart is a hard-working businessman.. We also watched the recent Hart special a while back, and it just felt safe to me, and his reaction to his own bits kind of overwhelms and overtakes the viewer before s/he even gets a chance.
His on-stage persona takes a lot of air out of the room, even if it's the Madison Square Garden.
I know Hart walked out with a baseball bat for his recent stand-up tee ball, so extending the metaphir it's like Hart beats out infield singles on effort, while Chris (not exactly subtle in his own reactions) is more able to check-swing an opposite field home run now and then.
Maybe this movie was a payback by the somehow now mega-star Hart to his mentor. Stuff about their meeting in comedy clubs was the most interesting part. Hart being a respectful dude and savvy businessman, he keeps the focus on goat gloating and away from poking any elephants.
As such I think this works best for folks who truly are Hart fans independent of what they think about Chris Rock, and not vice versa.
