How nice for Hollywood to arrange a play date between two actors. One of them is on the rise, and benefits from being able to pull off comedy, and the other is on the decline, and needed to prove relevancy by pairing with an actor with a pulse. Kevin james (60) and Alan ritchson is 42. Much like how Hollywood loves to put older men with hot younger ladies, james is paired with a hot younger guy for a buddy action comedy where he’s not apparently “too old for this shit”.

Also, can we reflect on James being 60? My God. But seriously, Paul Blart is playing a stepdad who is always trying to impress, but his stepson has a hard time making friends. So, when his stepson Lucas finally makes a friend at a party, he sets up a play date, despite Lucas’s new friend CJ having a very strange father (Ritchson). what then begins is an adventure where the two are on the run from someone, because it turns out that Jeff (Ritchson) is not the father of CJ, he just rescued him. Who are the people after them? What do they want?

I’ll acknowledge that Play date is one of the dumbest things I’ve seen this year. It’s also that one movie that manages to be dumb, and really fun at the same time. i was really entertained and engaged especially through the first two thirds. the movie does go off the rails once it explains itself, and it is also a movie with unfortunate wastes of time for talented supporting actors like Alan Tudyk, Sarah Chalke, and Stephen Root, who are given virtually nothing to do. At least Isla Fisher’s limited screentime is memorable. The other three could have all been left out.

The movie has repetitive gags that work, allusions and homages to other films, and plenty of silly and stupid fun. it also has some pretty solid audio description, which even plays during the outtakes at the end. Of the films released just to Amazon this year without a theatrical window, this is my favorite. It’s the only one I’d be willing to watch again.

Alan ritchson surprisingly has a lot of great comedic timing and commitment, unlike anything he’s done recently. He’s come a long way since American Idol. James is basically doing his usual thing, and being upstaged frequently by a non-comedian doesn’t bode well for his future. This is not a film critics are supposed to like, and I’m certain many will hate it, but I have to stick to my guns. Could it have been better? Sure. Was I entertained? very much. What does that say about me? I’m not sure. I like shiny things? I think we all like cheesy action movies at some point, and I bet everyone has a film they enjoy they just don’t want to admit to. The difference is, that in my position, I can’t hide from it. I can’t pretend like I’m with the cool artsy kids on this one, while secretly loving this at home. The whole purpose of doing this is to be brutally honest about what I like, and what you should take a look at.

I liked Play Date.

Play Date is the best dumb action comedy to skip theaters this year. Alan Ritchson proves his deep commitment to doing anything for a laugh, and proving he’s more than just a budding action star.

Fresh: final grade: 7.4/10