What’s It About
In a first-of-its-kind documentary, Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only will give audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of two comedy titans,” the streaming giant stated. “This exclusive film follows Hart and Rock as they give first-hand accounts of their early lives, struggles, triumphs and their unbreakable brotherhood.” This is a story about two separate journeys that somehow align and end up at the same intersection at the top,” Hart says in the teaser. The doc will go behind the scenes of Rock and Hart’s “Only Headliners Allowed” tour in July of 2022. Audiences will get to follow the two comedians as they prepare for an unforgettable week of four sold-out shows in New York. Along the way, Rock and Hart share firsthand accounts of the struggles and triumphs they faced before their respective colossal successes, placing their bond and brotherhood on full display.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only on Netflix is like an incredible backstage pass to the recent arena shows where these comedy legends teamed up. If you’re into comedy, you might find some of the stories familiar, like how Eddie Murphy spotted Rock or the goat gift from Hart to Rock at Madison Square Garden (and the whole Dave Chappelle drama). But don’t dismiss it just yet. There’s some fresh stuff, too. Rock’s disastrous first TV stand-up set is still shocking, and Keith Robinson steals the spotlight as the comedy Jedi master, mentoring Hart back when he was Lil’ Kev the Bastard. Directed by Rashidi Natara Harper, the film feels more like a hangout session than a documentary. Hart is all talkative, narrating his life, hyping up the show as the next Kings of Comedy tour. On the other hand, Rock seems a bit annoyed with the whole production, only doing it to spend time with Hart. He says you can’t be in the Hall of Fame and still play the game, but he’s still playing. Now, you might wonder why this documentary even exists. With little fresh comedy or info, dividing the 82 minutes into mini-docs on Hart and Rock barely scratches the surface of their lives. Props to them for trying to delve into the obstacles they faced before hitting it big, like Rock bombing in his stand-up TV debut and Hart’s sitcom getting the axe. Keith Robinson adds some juicy insights, like talking Hart out of his original stage name and Tony Rock’s take on asking for favors. There’s a cool part about older comedians mentoring the new ones, comparing Rock to Michael Jordan and Hart to Kobe Bryant. Rock questions if the new kids in stand-up are humble enough to seek help or just want attention on Instagram and TikTok. Hart brings up a harmful myth within the black entertainment community, the idea that there can only be one star at a time, causing unnecessary competition. Seeing Hart and Rock together on stage helps break this myth, and the documentary solidifies that this generation has its Kings of Comedy – Hart, Rock, and Chappelle, who are here to claim their crowns.
OUR RATING – A FLY ON THE WALL 8