Jeri Jacquin
Coming to Bluray/DVD and Digital in time to ring in the New
Year from director Malcolm D. Lee and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is
a life lesson for us all while attending NIGHT SCHOOL.
Teddy (Kevin Hart) is a man who wants to show his love Lisa
(Megalyn Echikunwoke) that he can take care of her and provide the finer things
in life. The problem is that Teddy has champagne tastes on a beer budget.
Selling bbq equipment, and doing it quite well, he sees a future of promise for
them both.
So much so that he finally asks Lisa to marry him with a
large ring and an even larger explosion – literally. Now out of a job he has to
find a quick way to get into another business so she doesn’t find out the
emotional and financial fine line he’s been riding. The problem is that Teddy
never graduated high school which means he is limited in the jobs he can get.
That’s when he decides to go to night school and get his GED
and, of course, he runs into his first problem in the principal. Stewart (Taran
Killam) is someone that Teddy bullied in high school and he has daggers for him
big time. That means Stewart doesn’t want him any where near his school – even
if night school teacher Carrie (Tiffany Haddish) doesn’t agree.
From night on Teddy is getting on everyone’s nerves
including classmates Mackenzie (Rob Riggle), Jaylen (Romany Malco), Luis (Al
Madrigal), Theresa (Mary Lynn Rajskub), Mila (Anne Winters) and the man behind
prison Facetime Gerald (Keith David). He also learns that instructor Carrie
isn’t taking any excuses or charming behavior for anyone who doesn’t want to
learn.
The band of GED’ers also share with one another that they
never were the best of students and are afraid they aren’t going to cut it.
Even when they try their hardest it seems that the only solution to graduating
is to take a few well places short cuts. When they are all confronted, it boils
down to Teddy as the culprit and instigator.
Given one final chance after a lot of chaos and knowing that
his love for Lisa is on the line, the group comes together in friendship that
no one, not even Principal Stewart can mess with. That and a few well place
knocks on the mat as Carrie continues to believe in her students!
Hart as Teddy once again plays the role of a man who is out
of place in life and spazzy at the way he deals with things. The humor is there
and Hart is also credited with the script for NIGHT SCHOOL. Bringing together
what he knows in the way of comedy with a cast of characters that have equally
made their own mark in comedy makes this a silly film filled with chuckles,
plus he does look good in a chicken costume.
Haddish as Carrie puts her verbal foot down from the moment
she sees Teddy on the street to realizing he is the student that drives
teacher’s crazy. Of course that doesn’t mean that Haddish doesn’t bring her own
brand of comedy to the character. She had made a name for herself and continues
to jump into comedies that make her look good.
Riggle as Mackenzie the coach takes a fall or two that had
me cringing but still laughing. Malco as Jaylen has a whole speech on not being
‘woke’ yet and I went with it. Madrigal as Luis is hilarious with his speech
about the pube cheese cake!
Rajskub as Theresa is a Mom who loves being a Mom but is a
little psycho about it. Once you meet her husband you begin to understand why
her screws are slightly loose. Winters as Mila is a girl who doesn’t see the
benefit of schooling without social media. David as Gerald cracks me up trying
to get an education while keeping an eye on who might be creeping up on the
webcam.
Echikunwoke as Lisa is a woman who doesn’t need anything
more than Teddy although he doesn’t quite get that. She begins to suspect he is
cheating on her with his long nights and weird work days. Killam as Stewart
loves to carry a bat and speak in a way that worries even me. Trying to make
sure Teddy is kept as down as he has always felt, he keeps his eye on
everything that goes on in the classroom.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an
amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience
and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre
available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to
offer please visit www.uphe.com.
The Bluray/DVD comes with an Extended Cut that also includes
the Theatrical Version. Bonus Features are Alternate
Opening, and Deleted Scenes, Gag Reel
– prepare to laugh (or cry) yourself silly through this hilarious montage of
behind-the-scenes antics performed by the cast of NIGHT SCHOOL.
And Night School’s in
Session – ring the bell as we introduce you to NIGHT SCHOOL’S band of
misfits, Who’s the Student? Who’s the
Teacher? – fans were thrilled to see friends Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish
star in their first film together, Prom
Night Revisited, Cap ‘n Gown ‘n Giggles, Making of the Dance Battle, Christian
Chicken, Game Over, Extended
Performance “El Sueno” and so much more!
Also, Movies Anywhere is part of the package that allows you
to watch anywhere with the Movies Anywhere App!
Other cast include Fat Joe as Bobby, Ben Schwartz as Marvin,
Yuvonne Orji as Maya, Bresha Webb as Denise, Jeff Rose as Isaac and Zach
Osterman as Little Mac.
NIGHT SCHOOL is a story about where we have been, where we
are and where we could go and teaches that lesson with hilarious laughs. It is
such a large cast of funny people which makes the story so much fun to watch.
In the end – bring an apple for the teacher because NIGHT
SCHOOL has begun!
