Get Hard

Prison looms for Will Ferrell's millionaire in a broad comedy that squares up to every penitentiary stereotype going and stays standing. Kevin Hart plays his "urban" partner in crime, except that he lies about doing time in jail, profiting from the white man's prejudice to take a lucrative job training the wealthy wimp to withstand the rigours of San Quentin. But Ferrell is also a patsy - as innocent as a bigot can be - after being framed to take the fall for an embezzlement scam at a big-name corporation. For every joke that trades on the colour of Hart's skin and his perceived "hardness", Ferrell always looks the bigger fool, which is just how he likes it. The Anchorman star is in his comfort zone but some gags are a little too lazy - especially when it comes to the prospect of violence in the shower room. Ferrell is at his best when he's being hesitantly brash and charms thanks to his awkwardly growing self-awareness and, of course, through his budding friendship with Hart. They make a spunky odd couple and while director Etan Cohen's feature debut doesn't rank alongside Ferrell's quirkier comedies, the time goes by quickly.