Me Time, a new Netflix comedy starring Mark Wahlberg and Kevin Hart, has taken a severe beating from critics.
Hart plays Sonny, a stay-at-home father who is suddenly given some "me time" for the first time in many years when his wife volunteers to take their kids away for a long break in the film, which debuted on the streaming platform this morning (August 26).
With some free time, he decides to get in touch with Wahlberg's Huck Dembo, a lifelong bachelor who is throwing an unforgettable birthday party for himself that might perhaps result in Sonny's death.
John Hamburg, the creator of comedic hits including I Love You, Man and Why Him?, wrote and directed the film, which Hart produced. Regina Hall, Jimmy O. Yang, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Andrew Santino are featured in the supporting roles.
You'd think we'd be in for a banker with Hamburg, who also created films like Meet The Fockers and 2017, and Wahlberg and Hart's solid track record of slapstick comedies, but the reviewers haven't been convinced. not by any means.
How poorly are we speaking?
very terrible The film currently only has a dreadful 8% of critics' approval on Rotten Tomatoes (opens in new tab). Comedy films like Me Time frequently receive poor reviews but perform well with crowds. Not this time; the audience ratings have fallen by a terrible 12% thus far.
The movie was harshly criticised by ABC News' Pete Travers, who called it "a laugh-starved" as well as "crushingly dim-witted and forgettable." Ouch.
Me Time is a "hopelessly predictable star vehicle," according to Frank Scheck of the Hollywood Reporter (opens in new tab). However, Valerie Complex of Deadline (opens in new tab) was almost as scathing as Travers, stating that it is "...really astonishing how unfunny this film is."
The film's production, according to Teo Bugbee of The New York Times, is just as flawed as the writing, with a "flatness that becomes apparent in every shot - and not only because the movie is made in bright, low contrast lighting," she wrote.
Nate Adams of The Sole Critic(opens in new tab), who rated the film a B and stated that nothing in Me Time "...would shock, but it does draw giggles," has provided the only positive review to date. Not particularly enthusiastic, but when you're average, take what you can get.
Analysis: Many people will still watch it, right?
Probably. Hart's most recent collaboration with Netflix, The Man From Toronto, came released at the end of June and received an average rating of 24% on Rotten Tomatoes (opens in new tab). With more than 100 million viewing hours, it nevertheless spent two weeks at the top of Netflix's Global 10 (opens in new tab). Everyone adores Kevin Hart.
It should be noted that Hart's 8% represents a new low. Me Time is his most recent low point; he has never been a favourite among critics and has had box office successes like Ride-Along, Get Hard, and The Wedding Ringer all score in the teens and 20s.
However, the erotic-drama pair from 365 Days both received 0% and amassed far over 100 million viewing hours. So, given the star power of Hart and Wahlberg and a slow week for movies in cinemas and on streaming services, we have every confidence that Me Time will top the Netflix movie chart the following week.
