Liverpool Sound and Vision rating * *

Cast: Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam, Romany Malco, Keith David, Loretta Devine, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Yvonne Orji, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Ben Schwartz, Anne Winters, Bresha Webb, Al Madrigal, Jeff Rose, Tilda Del Toro, Fat Joe.

You do have to wonder sometimes about cinema and the film industry when it finds ways to bring out the worst in the genre. It seems to be a problem that continues for the most part with what is loosely termed- American comedy, a sink hole into which its small screen cousin always hits absolute highs, and yet it cannot transfer to the pulling power available to the longer format.

The last twenty years has seen such greatness across the board on television, yet still the viewer is only ever given a brief glimpse of what makes humour the binding force in the universe; it is almost as if the people behind films such as Night School should be required to go back and re-learn what works on television and then take a long, hard look at themselves in the mirror, and see the pain of uninspiring dross they are inflicting on the pupils.

When the film does capture the mood of what it is desperately straining to portray, it is when Tiffany Haddish is in the scene, a rare exception to the story line which in many ways feels as if it is finding ways to not condescend those who take up the brave struggle to change their lives by going back to education when they have other responsibilities to attend and take care; by trying not to make a joke out of it, by alluding to the fact that given the chance to cheat then an older person struggling with class would delve into the realm of swindling their way through the exams, it comes across as patronising, almost humiliating.

Night School was perhaps a chance to show a real thought and project true comedy into a situation that might inspire others to look into the world of further education; yes, Kevin Hart’s character delivers the message of redemption and second chances taken but it is at a cost to the passion that is supposed to be in a film that has comedy as its main staple diet.

Overall, and as far as comedy goes, and especially in American cinema where they sadly lack the subtly and enjoyment of their television counterparts, Night School is one in which doesn’t receive the grades it thought it was going to achieve, it flunks on some of the subjects broached, and in the end it doesn’t even deserve the hall pass it was given, instead, and with great regret, it needs to see a nurse to be given a shot of humility and a dose of understanding what truly makes a school comedy, no matter the age of the student, tick.

Ian D. Hall