For the past two years, high-school security guard Ben has been trying to show decorated APD detective James that he's more than just a video-game junkie who's unworthy of James' sister, Angela. When Ben finally gets accepted into the academy, he thinks he's earned the seasoned policeman's respect and asks for his blessing to marry Angela. Knowing that a ride along will demonstrate if Ben has what it takes to take care of his sister, James invites him on a shift designed to scare the hell out of the trainee. But when the wild night leads them to the most notorious criminal in the city, James will find that his new partner's rapid-fire mouth is just as dangerous as the bullets speeding at it.
This routine buddy picture offers plenty of instant gratification (Cube and Hart are easygoing screen presences, and many of their one-liners are funny) but shows little concern for characterization, storytelling, or even comic pacing.
– Ben Sachs,
Chicago Reader,
23 Jan 2014
rotten:
As a comedian [Hart] has been begging for Hollywood's attention for five years. He has it now, but you've got to believe he can do better than this.
– Wesley Morris,
Grantland,
3 Feb 2014
fresh:
The most truthful answer is friendly but unexciting: They're OK. They're pretty good.
– Mick LaSalle,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Feb 2014
rotten:
Ride Along is saddled with an uninvolving plot, and largely content to coast on cop-movie cliches.
– Ashley Clark,
Time Out,
25 Feb 2014
rotten:
Nothing in the movie makes sense, but I prefer to think that "Ride Along" is just a badly told joke, rather than an insult to its audience.