By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB“Central Intelligence” is a light and humorous spy movie pairing regular guy Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart) with hard-body CIA agent Bob Stone (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). The movie is entertaining and often delightful, if also occasionally silly. This duo could make future buddy movies; they play off each other well.
Movie poster for ‘Central Intelligence.’ Courtesy photo
Calvin and his high school sweetheart, now wife, a smart lawyer named Maggie (Danielle Nicolet), live a comfortable lifestyle. Calvin is a “forensic accountant” who just got passed over for a promotion. He hasn’t lived up to his own expectations as the one “Most Likely to Succeed” from the Class of 1996. His disappointments are beginning to show and are impacting his relationship with Maggie.
Maggie reminds Calvin that their 20th high school reunion is coming up and Calvin really doesn’t want to go. While on Facebook declining the invitation to the reunion, he gets a Friend Request from someone named Bob Stone, the former Robbie Wehrdicht. They chat and Bob invites Calvin out for drinks to get caught up. The much-maligned fat Robbie from high school looks nothing like his teenage self—Bob has spent the past 20 years working out 6 hours a day and it shows. Calvin isn’t sure what to think when Bob easily flips four bullies in the bar that night.
Calvin’s accounting skills are what Bob is needing for a case he is working. Soon, Calvin is in over his head. Humor and hijinks ensue. Through it all is a message about the deep psychological damage done by bullying and how it can haunt a person into adulthood. But healing results at the end (in a most surprising way).
Central Intelligence is “Rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, some nudity, action violence and brief strong language.” Teenagers through adults will enjoy this film.
