What’s It About

Brian has just been fired from his job. He becomes a stay-at-home dad. He accepts a playdate invitation from another stay-at-home dad who turns out to be a loose cannon.

MOVIESinMO REVIEW

Honestly, I didn’t think Playdate would be good. Another action-comedy streaming straight to video? That’s pretty much code for “we know this is bad.” But sometimes bad is fun, and this movie actually demonstrates that. We all know what “So bad it’s good” is. Kevin James plays Brian, a newly unemployed accountant trying to navigate being a stepdad. He has issues with confidence, cannot communicate with his stepson, Lucas, and epitomizes every uncomfortable parent who has tried way too hard at a birthday party. When, at a neighborhood gathering, Lucas makes a friend who he introduces as CJ, Brian jumps on the opportunity to set up a playdate. The only problem – CJ’s dad, Jeff (Alan Ritchson), is really, really off. Jeff claims to be a stay-at-home dad, but his stories never add up. He mentions his dead wife with all the emotion of someone discussing yesterday’s lunch. He and CJ throw footballs at each other with enough force to cause concussions. Everything about this dude screams “something weird is happening here,” but Brian’s too desperate for his stepson to have friends to question it. Of course, Jeff is not CJ’s father; he saved the child, and a group of bad guys wants him back. The rest is exactly as you would think: car chases, fistfights, explosions, and two fathers haplessly trying to protect their child. It’s stupid. It’s predictable. And for some weird reason, I had a great time watching it. The most surprising thing is Alan Ritchson. We know him as Jack Reacher, strong, silent, intimidating. But Playdate reminds us that before all that, this guy got his start on American Idol and played the ridiculous Thad Castle on Blue Mountain State. He’s genuinely funny when given the chance, and watching him play an overgrown golden retriever of a human being is refreshing. He commits fully to every absurd moment, whether he’s lying badly about his backstory or launching himself into action scenes with the energy of someone who chugged three energy drinks. The contrast between his massive frame and his goofy enthusiasm creates comedy gold. Kevin James does what Kevin James always does: plays the everyman dealing with chaos. He’s the one being straight here, and I think seeing a non-cast member like Ritchson outshine him probably isn’t good for James’s career. But their chemistry works. James brings the deadpan and timing, and Ritchson bounces around excitedly, calling like a puppy. They play off each other well enough that you might want to see them do this again. The action sequences hit harder than expected. Director Luke Greenfield doesn’t hold back when Ritchson throws punches; these fights feel brutal in the best way, similar to what we see in Reacher. The choreography stays sharp throughout, and there’s something hilarious about watching serious action happen while Jeff rambles about something completely unrelated. The film recognizes that sometimes the funniest moments occur during the most intense portions of the story. Now let’s talk about where Playdate fails. The film loves freeze-frames too much. You know the moments in a film where everything stops mid-action for a comedic beat? They work the first time. They may work the second time, as well. However, by the fifth or sixth time, you’re rolling your eyes. This film just keeps going back to those same jokes over and over, when they really didn’t work at first. It’s almost like watching someone tell the same story, over and over, hoping it will be funny again each time. Spoiler alert: it’s not. The supporting cast is wasted hard. When Alan Tudyk, Sarah Chalke, and Stephen Root appear on screen together and you think, “Yes, I am in, I am excited, these people are talented,” and they just stand there, like nothing. Isla Fisher at least gets a few fun moments, but the other three do not even need to be in the movie. It’s disappointing to see talented actors being used like that, they could have cut them out. The movie also goes off the deep end with language once it points itself out. The first two-thirds of the movie are engaging enough when you can focus on the mystery, and you don’t know what is going to happen. After everything is explained and revealed, the reality of what you are viewing becomes more and more absurd. I will not spoil it, but let’s just say logic is permanently on vacation. If you need a story to sort of make sense, you will have a tough time. But if you can turn off your brain and just enjoy the ride, it’s much easier to swallow. There’s also some obvious Amazon product placement that feels forced. It’s not as bad as some movies, but it’s noticeable enough to pull you out of the experience for a second. At least it’s brief. Amid all the pandemonium, Playdate genuinely does have something to say about fatherhood. Brian is learning how to be present in the life of his stepson and how to feel good about himself as a parent. Jeff, even as a walking disaster, is unconditionally supportive of CJ. The movie’s heart beats the loudest throughout these moments of father-son time, emphasizing that just being present for your children is much more important than being a “good” parent. It’s endearing but not overly sentimental, a much more difficult balance to strike than one might think. The film runs a brisk 93 minutes, releasing it from the stagnation of dragging jokes or moments unnecessarily long after their expiration date. When it’s firing on all cylinders, usually when Ritchson and James share the screen, it’s genuinely entertaining. The problem is that those cylinders don’t always fire together. Look, I’m not going to pretend Playdate is some misunderstood masterpiece. I realize that this is going to get blasted by critics, and I understand why. It is childish. It has some recycled jokes. If you think about the plot for more than five seconds, it makes no sense. However, I can’t deny that I had a good time. A good, real-time. Sometimes that’s enough. There are movies that we really enjoy that we shouldn’t enjoy. Movies we would never admit we liked in front of the “cool kids,” but love to watch in the comfort of our own homes.  The difference is, in my position, I can’t hide. I have to be honest about what entertained me, even when it’s something this silly. And Playdate entertained me. Of the Amazon originals released straight to streaming this year without theatrical runs, this stands as my favorite. It’s the only one I’d actually watch again. That has to count for something. Alan Ritchson demonstrates that he is more than an action star, showing a genuine comedic talent deserving of more attention. Kevin James is… Kevin James. Together, they form an odd-couple relationship that mostly works, even when the movie around them does not. If you are looking for intelligent and smart… look elsewhere. But if you want to turn off your brain for an hour and a half and watch two dads accidentally become action heroes while trying to protect their kids? Playdate delivers that experience with enough charm to make it worthwhile. It’s the best dumb action-comedy to skip theaters this year, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

OUR RATING – A DAD JOKES 6