About Last Night (2014)

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

About Last Night is a very unique romantic comedy. And for a genre that's practically built around clichés, that's really saying something. It intertwines the romance and the comedy from different angles by showing two couples, both with polar opposite relationship dynamics. There are essentially four leads in this movie and they're all excellent, especially Hart and Hall. They're an absolute riot together. You can tell some of the stuff is improvised and they bounce off each other incredibly well, and you actually believe that these characters can fall in love. The "normal" couple has the more romantic story, and sadly they're not nearly as fun as the crazy couple, but that's kind of the point. There are some heartfelt moments in there, and the witty writing helps a lot. Some plot lines in the movie are predictable, some are filler, but the movie as a whole is diverse and totally engaging. It's structured in a way that it jumps from season to season, showing the peaks and valleys of the two relationships and how the friendships between all four characters are affected by it. There is seldom a dull moment in About Last Night, and you can't say that about many romcoms.What elevates this movie in particular, though, is Kevin Hart. He's absolutely hysterical. I would watch a full two hour movie of just his character, he's that good. This is more proof that Hart is a comedy genius (and this is coming from someone who doesn't care much for his standup); he just needs the right vehicle to showcase it completely. Here, he just isn't in it enough. I mean, he's in it a lot, but he's just so damn good you can't get enough. His chemistry with everyone is great, and it doesn't even feel like he's acting. Not to say the other actors aren't as good - they're great - but Hart (and his relationship with Hall) basically steals the movie.About Last Night isn't the be all end all of romantic comedies, but it's different enough to separate it from the pack. It handles both the romance and the comedy with finesse (and plenty of vulgarity), and it features Kevin Hart unleashed. If you're a fan of his, this is a must-watch.

This movie had very good dry humor but despite the fact that It made me chuckle a few times; I felt that there was a lack of comedy throughout the entire film. There were times when I questioned the plot and who the main characters actually were. The overall theme seemed like a re-run of every bad drama you've ever seen with the smallest issues made to seem like a big plot line. It felt like the flick tried to be its own version of 500 days of summer, only difference was the fact that it was all in chronological order. I sat and watched it waiting for the mood to shift or pick up just a tad bit but everything was very bland and predictable. I had a tough time believing that this movie had even managed to snag as much of an audience as it has. I usually enjoy these sorts of films but there just wasn't enough of a plot or humor for me to really think anything of this movie, except that it was a waste of my time. I honestly wish I could pick out scenes that I genuinely enjoyed and save them for a different film because it's a shame to see them wasted in this. When I was checking out the trailer it seemed entertaining and fresh but it seems like most of the funny moments, (and the entire beginning,) of the movie were packed in there, not to mention the fact that at times it felt like the movie was moving just as fast as the trailer, It really seemed a bit rushed. It feels harsh but I truly didn't find a strand of interest in this film despite loving the characters and certain parts. I wouldn't recommend the movie, it was a letdown and I was left disappointed.

So what do we have here? Nothing but another unnecessary remake of an '80s film. This time it's "About Last Night," the romantic drama starring Demi Moore and Rob Lowe, which was itself based on the highly acclaimed play by David Mamet, provocatively entitled "Sexual Perversity in Chicago." In this version, it's Joy Brand and Michael Ealy who play the young urban couple who meet, fall in love, move in together, then begin to have doubts about the efficacy and durability of their relationship. Brand and Ealy are appealing and attractive performers, and both have done fine work on TV, Brand in "Parenthood" and Ealy in "Almost Human." But here they have been let down by screenwriter Leslye Headland, who proves herself incapable of getting past all the timeworn tropes and clichés that have become so much a part of the romantic comedy genre. The movie becomes just another men-are-from-Mars/women-are-from-Venus- type scenario, filled with girl-talk and guy-talk and all the predictable sturm und drang soul-baring and commitment issues (mainly on the part of the man, of course) that such narratives are prone to. Too often the things pulling the couple apart feel scripted and manufactured rather than organic and real. Under the slick but lackluster direction of Steve Pink, everyone just seems to be going through the motions, without any real passion or conviction.The movie also comes replete with the requisite smart-aleck, comic- relief couple (well-played by Kevin Hart and Regina Hall) to serve as a foil for the one on center-stage. Yet, even the humor tends to aim low when it should be aiming high.I like the way the story hits the re-set button in the final scene, but by then it's a case of too little too late and we've already moved onto the next movie.

My Thoughts: I didn't know what to expect going into this movie. I had not seen the 1986 Demi Moore and Rob Lowe movie that this one is based off of or "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" by David Mamet. All I had to go on was the trailers that, lately, seem to be on every channel and radio station.What do we get out of this movie? We get to follow two couples. The first couple, Kevin Hart and Regina Hall, are two people that are attracted to each other but can't seem to stand each other for more than 5 minutes unless they are not in public. The second couple is Michael Ealy and Joy Bryant who are your more traditional couple, living through the struggles of being a new couple and stumbling along the way.There are some great comedic moments in this movie (how can there not be with the proclaimed "funniest man alive"), but sadly, that does not help this movie. With a run time of around 90 minutes, this movie's pacing is slow. Which, of course, had me looking at my watch, wondering when it was going to be over.I was also kind of surprised that people had brought their kids to this movie. There are plenty of sex scenes in the first quarter of the movie. Nothing too detailed, but the kid next to me seemed to have her head in the arm of her mother for most of the show. And then there is the language. Again, it is rated R, meaning they were very descriptive in talking about sexual acts. So, think twice about bringing your kids to this movie; it is not family-friendly.My Recommendation: This movie just didn't do it for me. Yes, there was some funny moments, but the pace of this movie was just too slow. Wait for it to come out on Blu-ray/DVD.