“A true story”: the good and the bad of the police drama with Kevin Hart on Netflix

It is impossible to analyze the work of Kevin Hart just because of his facet as a humorist. And, unlike other stars of today’s Hollywood, this 42-year-old actor has tried on more than one occasion to step out of his comfort zone (the stand-up ones), to venture into challenges that are not necessarily more ambitious, but yes different.

A first example of this could well be “Friends forever” (“The Upside” in English), a film that, although it had light touches of humor, was still a fairly human drama. In this film – which you can find on Amazon Prime Video – the African-American actor plays Dell, a dysfunctional father who, on the verge of falling into the criminal haze that punishes his world, encounters a stroke of luck: a writer ( Philip Lacasse / Bryan Cranston) offers him a job as his personal assistant.

Although initially Dell takes the job as a simple way to make easy money, little by little he ends up becoming fond of that man who, although paralyzed from the head down (he is quadriplegic), maintains a remarkable lucidity, thus allowing him – through sentences, but mostly of actions — seeing that we all have a second chance to be happy (and, of course, better people).

Two steps above “Friends forever” is, without a doubt, “A true story”, the new series that Kevin Hart stars for Netflix and whose main letter of introduction is the CV of its creator Eric Newman, himself who did the same years ago with “Narcos”, an event all over the planet if we talk about streaming.

“A true story” takes the time to effectively question various aspects of our society.

In this new seven-episode proposal, Kevin Hart plays Kid, a wealthy stand-up comedy genius who, while trying to finalize his first divorce, must deal with a circle of people who only seem to pay attention to the money he produces. .

JUST AN EGO ALTER?

It is not useless to stop to check if Kid has more similarities than differences towards Kevin Hart. Both are comedians who arose from poverty and who, thanks to their undeniable talent for making people laugh, end up filling football stadiums and starring in top-grossing films. But there is not everything. The character and the actor who plays him are also human beings who have suffered the consequences of their weaknesses (sex, alcohol and endless nights).

“A true story”, however, is not the mere description of how a comedian with structural ‘problems’ ends up going under. At least not directly. Along the way he is introduced to Carlton (Wesley Snipes), a ‘reappeared’ older brother who seems capable of anything to get some of the money that Kid keeps in the banks.

The rapprochement between the two characters, with hugs and alcohol in between, turns into a criminal act. Kid spends the night with a beautiful woman who, first thing in the morning, appears dead on the bed of a luxurious hotel in Philadelphia. From here the action really begins. How much will this comedian millionaire be willing to give and do to prevent his castle of media success from collapsing right under his nose?

The successes of “A true story” are multiple and range from the duration of its episodes (never more than 35 minutes, which makes the result an agile and digestible story) to the choice of villains (Billy Zane returns and widely fulfills the expectations, Chris Diamantopoulos is a convincingly unscrupulous killer) and the supporting characters, passing – of course – through the stellar duo.

This is a superb performance by Wesley Snipes. On the verge of 60 years, the actor born in Orlando, Florida, gives life to a wretch capable of selling his soul to the devil. His every action and reflex irritate the viewer with chilling ease.

Special mention for Kevin Hart. Faced with the inability to return his life to how it was before that first death, his character ends up wrapped in a bloody spiral, in which pulling the trigger will be anything but the end of the problem. To this should be added that, like many of the Hollywood stars, he faces harassment from fans who, at times, seem more likely to drive you crazy than to generate a satisfied smile.

Before concluding, it is necessary to mention that “A true story” takes time to effectively question various aspects of our society. From their unbridled consumerism, to tolerance for violence, to the weak mental health policy exercised by authorities in the United States (and in Peru more, as if it were necessary to remember). Each of these particularities make this Netflix series an unbeatable opportunity to rethink more than one topic that we most likely saw over our shoulders before.

Finally, Kevin Hart deserves a special mention. This film could well be taken as the impetus it needed to open up new fronts in the industry. Nobody has asked him to stop doing humor in bars, arenas or stadiums. But most likely after seeing the result of this series, you will be aware that you are capable of achieving everything you set out to do.

THE TOKEN

Synopsis: After a night in Philadelphia with his brother that could sabotage much more than his career, a famous comedian desperately seeks a way out.

Platform: Netflix

Duration: 35 minutes each chapter (7 chapters)

Classification: +16.

Rating: ★★★★

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