Night School

As flat and generic as its title, Malcolm D. Lee’s dreary comedy comes off like a cruelly extended episode of a bad classroom-based network sitcom, albeit with rougher language. Kevin Hart plays Teddy, introduced as a very old-looking high-school student flunking out after being harassed by his classmate Stewart (Taran Killam). Years later, Teddy is a BBQ grill salesman who loses his job when he literally blows up the store and then must go back to school to earn the GED he needs to secure a new one. Now a principal, Stewart reluctantly allows Teddy to join a night class taught by dedicated, tough-talking Carrie (Tiffany Haddish), and featuring predictably misfit students: Mac (Rob Riggle), a total lunkhead; Theresa (Mary Lynn Rajskub), a harried housewife; Jaylen (Romany Malco), a conspiracy buff; Mila (Anne Winters), an apathetic teen; Luis (Al Madrigal), a waiter; and Bobby (Fat Joe), a burly convict who joins the class via Skype. With such a talented cast, one might reasonably expect a few good moments, but they are very rare, and the episodic sketches never coalesce into a coherent whole. Certainly the worst scenes come toward the close, when Teddy’s difficulty in mastering material is abruptly explained by a diagnosis of multiple learning disabilities, which Carrie helps him overcome by having him beaten up until they disappear—a baffling and insulting message for people who are actually afflicted with learning disabilities. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (14 min.) and an alternate opening (7 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are audio commentary by director Malcolm D. Lee, the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Night School's in Session!” (14 min.), “Making of the Dance Battle” (4 min.), “Who's the Student? Who's the Teacher” (3 min.), “Prom Night Revisited” (3 min.), “Cap 'N Gown 'N Giggles” (2 min.), “Game Over” (2 min.), and the brief “Christian Chicken,” as well as a gag reel (11 min.), an extended performance (3 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a lackluster comedy.] (F. Swietek)