REVIEW: Night School Might Need A Little Tutoring
Night School is a charming tale relying heavily on the comedic talents of Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Night School sees high school dropout Teddy Walker (Hart) struggling to keep up his double life.
On the outside, Teddy appears to be a well-off sales associate with a nice car, nice duplex, and pretty lady friend. It soon becomes apparent Teddy is stretched well beyond his financial means. When his perfect world goes up in smoke (literally) he decides to enroll in night school to earn his GED. The GED he apparently needs to jump-start his next career. Teddy’s night school is taught by Carrie (Tiffany Haddish) an over-worked and under-paid teacher. With the help of his fellow night school misfits, Teddy realizes there is nothing shameful in being true and honest with you are.
Lee gets the film off on the right foot but too much of it is spent on building Teddy’s back story and not enough time is spent with Carrie and the night school students. The better moments in the film happen when Hart and Haddish are on screen together and they’re increased by the surrounding cast of night school classmates (Rob Riggle, Romany Malco, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Anne Winters, and Al Madrigal). Teddy’s night school classmates have their own reasons for needing their GED and play well off one another to create a believable sense of camaraderie.
Hart is reliably funny, especially if you’re familiar with his work. Haddish, who stole the show in Girls Trip, solidifies the need for her in more films, she’s a delight on screen. The pair is most electrifying when together, which is not often enough. It was a treat to see them working as a pair (and not a romantic one).
Taran Killam as Stuart, the school’s principal and Teddy’s former high school enemy, does what he can with the material given. You never actually feel anything more than minimal distaste towards his character. As a nemesis he’s fine but he’s never evil enough to despise.
Night School can’t decide if it wants to be a raunchy or wholesome comedy. There are several funny moments and a sprinkle of raunchy bits, but for the most part it’s like a standardized test. It slowly trudges along until the teacher tells you to put your pencil down.
Grade: B-