Get Hard (6/30/2015)

Rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content and language, some graphic nudity, and drug material.

Starring Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie, Tip ‘T.I.’ Harris and Craig T. Nelson

Directed by Etan Cohen

Once again, Will Ferrell shows the world that he can be very funny. Unfortunately he also shows the world his backside.

When millionaire hedge fund manager James King (Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell Lewis (Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison. Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to ‘get hard’ and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other.

Please allow me to be clear about three things before we start the review. 1. Get Hard is pretty funny. 2. It is also very inappropriate. And 3. Teenagers all over this country are flocking to the theaters to see it. So as a youth leader and/or parent, what do you need to know about the film?

Well the first thing is Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart are two very funny people…and they are even funnier together.

The best way to describe Farrell’s character is blissfully unaware. He is really good at making money, but painfully unaware of the people around him and the way they view him. At first he appears to be a smug elitist, but you quickly begin to feel sympathy for him as you discover he’s actually a good guy.

Hart on the other hand is an average guy just trying to make ends meet and provide for his family. We quickly see that he genuinely loves his wife and daughter and works hard to achieve his goals. He is a character who is worth cheering for in almost every scene.

They are two very different people who are brought together under a very interesting set of circumstances… the classic odd couple film.

After watching the trailer, I was worried that I had already viewed all of the “funny scenes,” but that wasn’t the case. With new material and a lot of the gags that I had already seen, I laughed quite a bit during the film.

On the other hand, there were plenty of scenes that caused me to roll my eyes or avert my eyes. Whether it was Alison Brie in lingerie or Will Farrell and Matt Walsh in a bathroom stall at a “gay mixer,” there were several scenes that were tasteless, inappropriate and vulgar. The topic of getting raped in prison is a reoccurring conversation that holds nothing back. There are also around 100 uses of the F word and plenty of crude sexual conversations.

At the end of the day, weighing the humor versus the raunchiness, I have to say “skip it.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No. This film has a sex scene, nudity, graphic sexual conversations, over 100 F-words and other inappropriate content.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. Why does Darnell agree to help Mr. King?


2. Do you think our motivation is important when it comes to helping others?

Read Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.


3. Why does God tell us to help others?


4. What can you do this week to help a friend or a neighbor or someone in your family?