NIGHT SCHOOL (2018)

SYNOPSIS:
A group of misfits are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they'll pass the GED exam.

Review by Louise Keller:
The energy and laughs of this low-brow comedy come from the upbeat banter between the irrepressible Kevin Hart and the splendid Tiffany Haddish. The first time they cross paths (stopped at a red light in their respective convertibles), the zing of their fiery dialogue is like a hot coal being tossed from one car to the other. 'Leprechaun' may be the only word you remember from this encounter, but it is enough to spark our interest in what is to come.

Pubic hair on cheesecake; a white headmaster doing 'a black voice'; a seduction scene that defies logic; Hart dressed in a chicken suit being belt whipped. These are some of the images that remain top of mind. Shakespeare, it is not. Director Malcolm D. Lee, has delivered a film that is entertaining enough, but never reaches the heights of his raunchy, hilarious Girls Trip (2017), which I called 'Bridesmaids for Black People'. Here the mix of crazy characters and the juxtaposition of offbeat ideas brings a classroom of chuckles.

Hart is always a likeable screen presence, while Haddish is never given the opportunity to showcase her talents - unlike her scene stealing turn in Girls Trip. For the undemanding, the film delivers along with its themes of honesty, camaraderie and being proud of who you are. It may not inspire you to enroll at Night School, but works on its own terms and it certainly looks as though everyone had fun making the film.

It's unlikely you will confuse this film with the inspiring doco of the same name. Look out for it - it's a goodie.