What Now? is an appropriate title for Kevin Hart’s latest film covering his sold out comedy special of the same name. The film focuses on his show in his hometown of Philadelphia where he literally packed out Lincoln Financial Field.
When it comes to comedy, Kevin Hart is pretty much a rock star and it’s pretty much clear as he gets a stadium of 53,000 people to laugh at his energetic brand of comedy. What Now? follows up Hart’s last stand-up special Let Me Explain and of course Hart being the visionary he is opted to something extraordinarily different with this stand up special/film.
We spoke to Kevin exclusively and asked him about returning to stand-up after being in so many blockbuster films and how did it feel?
For me it was a must. I never go away from standup comedy. Standup comedy is always first. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for standup comedy. It’s just about me doing it right. I think I’ve set quite a bar for myself when it comes to standup comedy, when it comes to be doing my standup comedy specials. From Grown Little Man, to Seriously Funny, to Laugh at My Pain, to Let Me Explain, and to now What Now? The goal is to get better. The goal is to grow and to always reach levels. The time comes in with me just not being content with the material at certain points. It took me about a good year and a half to two years to get the material as solid as it was for me to film What Now. Once I felt that it was seamless, that every joke hit hard then I said it’s time to not only tour but film the special.
Team SFPL got the opportunity to attend a special fan screening of the film at AMC Lincoln Square theater in NYC.To show his appreciation to the fans Kevin Hart surprised the crowded the theater by showing up and sharing a few words with the crowd about the film and thanking them.
Now lets get into the film! Before we get to the actual stand up special we are treated to a short film featuring some big Hollywood names.
Tim Story directs the James Bond inspired mini film where Kevin Hart plays himself as a spy with Halle Berry who also played a Bond Girl as his leading lady. The setting of course is the obligatory high stakes poker game we have grown accustomed to in all spy movies.Kevin goes all in battling the evil Russian villain (David Meunier), and Don Cheadle who plays himself and grows impatient with Kevin’s hilarious antics as he mocks him at the table. Ed Helms of The Hangover fame serves as the wacky bartender in the scene.
Things pick up in the mini film action wise and we get to see Kevin effortlessly pull off some fight choreography. It’s a relief from always seeing Kevin as the awkward funny guy in fight scenes always getting beat up. It all leads up to Kevin making it to the stadium to put on the biggest stand up special ever where Leslie Small takes over on the directorial side.
Backed by a huge big-board that successfully helped Kevin tell his over the top stories about his fiancé at the time now wife, children, his father and hilarious real-life experiences. Small manages to catch the multi-cultural crowd letting the laughs go as Kevin delivers his unique brand of comedy. Small successfully captures the 5’4″ but now larger than life comedian dishing out jokes to more than 50,000 for a unique comedy experience.
That still leaves the question of What Now? What can Kevin honestly do to top this? What continues to motivate him? Well a global tour for one as to what continues to drive the comedian to push the envelope he also added:
I think now just seeing me getting closer to the goal of becoming a mogul. I think that’s where a lot of this motivation comes from. I want to become the mogul that I set out to be. I want to be self-owned. I want Hart Beat Productions to stand on its own. I want Hart Beat Digital to do more. I want my network Laugh Out Loud Network to be successful. I still want to go on and do comedy at the highest level. I still want to go on and star in blockbuster movies. I mean it’s just constantly going and doing as much as I possibly can, but the motivation comes in knowing that I can reach that level.
Well said Kevin!
Final Verdict
If you were like me and didn’t get a chance to attend Hart’s stand up special live then this film will definitely show you what you missed. It will have you in the theater laughing out loud and repeating with the crowd in the movie as Kevin says “oh really” as he mimics the sarcasticness of black woman who are reluctant to believe outrageous stories that Kevin jokingly tells. Looking for a good laugh on date night or movie night with the homies then by all means checkout this film.
4 out of 5
Kevin Hart: What Now? is in theaters October 14th!
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