Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
For the past two years, high-school security guard Ben has been trying to show decorated APD detective James that he's more than just a video-game junkie who's unworthy of James' sister, Angela. When Ben finally gets accepted into the academy, he thinks he's earned the seasoned policeman's respect and asks for his blessing to marry Angela. Knowing that a ride along will demonstrate if Ben has what it takes to take care of his sister, James invites him on a shift designed to scare the hell out of the trainee. But when the wild night leads them to the most notorious criminal in the city, James will find that his new partner's rapid-fire mouth is just as dangerous as the bullets speeding at it.
Ride Along is a formulaic buddy-cop comedy that leans heavily on the chemistry between Kevin Hart and Ice Cube. The plot is a well-worn template—mismatched duo, prove-yourself premise, escalating danger—with few surprises. Hart's energetic, rapid-fire comedic performance elevates the material somewhat, and Cube's stoic straight-man act is effective, giving the acting a modest boost. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, typical of mid-budget studio comedies. Novelty is low; the film borrows liberally from decades of buddy-cop conventions without adding a distinctive voice. The ending resolves predictably with no real twists or earned emotional payoff.