Coffee and Kareem | Film Review

Hey Guys x

This is a Netflix original movie that came out on Saturday, and I put it on knowing absolutely nothing about it other than the fact that it starred Ed Helms and Taraji P Henson, two actors that I love.

Officer James Coffee (Ed Hemls) is in love with his girlfriend Vanessa (Taraji P Henson). But where Vanessa goes, her 12-year-old son Kareem (Terrence Little Gardenhigh) follows. During a bonding experience, Coffee and Kareem accidentally uncover a criminal plot that leaves them running for their lives. Can this unlikely duo work together when it's most important?

At the beginning, I thought I liked this movie. Then I kept watching, and my opinion drastically changed.

The premise is basic and has been done more than once. Because of this, the film lives or dies based on its characters, its actors and the script. The fact that it stars Ed Helms (who also produced it) is an indication that, at the very least, it won't be bad... or so you'd think.

It starts off good enough. The script seems fine, some of the moments are really funny, and the acting is good. But soon enough the story begins to spiral and becomes unrealistic, ridden with plot-holes, and stops making sense.
In addition to this, a lot of the jokes start to fall flat, particularly the jokes and one-liners that come out of Kareem's mouth. The film tries to capitalise on the 'kid says inappropriate things' to be funny, but it doesn't actually work.

Because of the absurdity in the story, it doesn't take long for you to lose interest in both the story and these characters, who aren't that great to begin with.
The problem with not having an interest in these characters is that, when the film tries to be heartwarming, it falls flat because you don't care enough about anyone for it to work.

It's easy to see how this was intended to be a fun buddy-cop movie, but it doesn't do a good job of this at all.

Overall, this is a short film (1hr 28 mins) that feels a lot longer than it actually is. I probably won't watch the film again, and if you don't have a particular interest, I'd avoid it. Because to be honest, I don't think the film has one redeeming quality.

3.5/10

Lou