Director: John Hamburg
Writer: John Hamburg
Stars: Kevin Hart, Mark Wahlberg, Regina Hall
Synopsis: Follows a dad who finds time for himself for the first time in years while his wife and kids are away. He reconnects with a friend for a wild weekend.
There are few things as sacred in the Miller household besides football on Sundays and the family dinner that follows afterward. On par with those is the great remote drop when I Love You Man shows up when channel surfing. You cannot talk about the transition of 21st-century comedies without running across a classic John Hamburg comedy. The man has defined the new buddy comedy in the past decade. From writing modern comedy classics like Zoolander and Meet the Parents to that endearing Paul Rudd vehicle, the man’s resume for sophomoric comradery is unmatched. Yet, all the charm, laughs, chemistry, and heart we have treated to in his previous films seems to have been mysteriously forgotten in Hamburg’s latest comedy, Me Time.
Here, the story follows Sonny Fisher (Kevin Hart), an adoring stay-at-home father of two. His wife, Maya (the wonderful Regina Hall), is a highly sought-after and successful architect who is the breadwinner. The Fishers make a wonderful team. Maya ensures they have a roof over their head, and Sonny ensures the family runs smoothly. He parents his kids, Ava and Dash, like a Swiss watch. He is making certain Dash practices the piano every day. (Dash would rather listen to Bill Burr sets, a nice touch). He is also on every school committee imaginable. However, Sonny has not gotten a well-deserved break in years. Furthermore, Maya realizes she is missing her kids growing up.
That is where Huck Dembo (Mark Wahlberg) comes in. Sonny’s oldest and dearest friend, he stopped hanging out with because Huck lives life on the edge. With a family and even proper training, Sonny can no longer afford to dive off a cliff in a wingsuit anymore. However, with Huck about to celebrate his 44th birthday in a couple of days, Maya sees an opportunity for Sonny to experience some much-needed self-care. She can also take her kids for the weekend. Of course, things go off script, and the ride is bumpier than ever.
Hamburg also wrote Me Time‘s script. A collection of lazily strung-together scenes and ideas with zero subtext and are practically laugh-free. From mixing family comedy jokes like tripping on turtle feces to illogical nonsensical comedy like fighting off a mountain lion with an EpiPen; none of it works or comes close to humorous or even amusing. You also have an alarming issue of situations that pop up with no purpose.
For instance, Hart’s Sonny accuses his father-in-law of cheating on his wife without any explanation before or after. The duo also enters Maya’s most valuable client’s (Luis Gerardo Méndez) home without explaining how they drove into the complex past security or broke into the house. Then, there is Jimmy O. Yang’s completely useless Stan Berman, who has no other reason for existing other than giving the film a false sense of purpose.
While Hart’s energy remains infectious and Wahlberg’s trademark turn of spinning comedic roles in a sweet and naïve manner can be endearing, the dialogue remains aimless and inconsequential. In fact, the only time a joke works — by a sorely underused Anna Maria Horsford and John Amos — the rest of the lifeless script sticks out like a sore thumb.
Hamburg’s best movies, while operating on a level of illogical premises, had characters seeking to communicate and understand each other. This has been best accomplished while combining well-structured comedic scenes paired for more significant effect and payoff. That is how you make a winning comedy that finds the heart of the matter.
Like Barbara Lowe says, this way, you will never walk away disappointed.
Grade: D+
