Fish-out-of-water stories are so relatable because everyone knows what it’s like to feel like an outsider. That’s why movies lean heavily on the same storytelling trope, which has been done to death across all genres at this point. The trope inspires self-reflection in dramas, and escalates tension in science fiction, horror, and action. It undoubtedly works best in comedies, and Netflix’s new movie proves that — it’s currently dominating the streamer’s worldwide charts despite mixed critical reception.
Kevin Hart has built a career doing stand-up comedy, but he also doesn’t shrink away from slapstick. He was hilarious in Ride Along with Ice Cube and in Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson. Hart has perfected his brand of humor with his unique comedic timing, exaggerated physical acting, and self-deprecating humor. He’s very comfortable being the butt of jokes in 72 Hours, where he plays Joe Nixon, a 40-year-old marketing executive going through a midlife crisis.
’72 Hours’ Takes Netflix Top Spot After Two Days of Streaming
72 Hours scores big on Netflix just two days after release, topping the platform’s worldwide movie charts. The movie has beaten true-crime documentary A Toxic Love Story and Netflix international films Desire, The Debt Collector, and Elize: Shadows of a Woman. 72 Hours also leads Netflix’s US top ten, overtaking A Toxic Love Story, Ordinary Angels, Elize: Shadows of a Woman, and Sniper: No Nation.
72 Hours follows Joe as he tries to survive a Gen Z party weekend. Pressured to settle down and secure his career, Joe’s boss doubts his ability to head his department after a series of disastrous, out-of-touch ad campaigns. Desperate for the Chief Creative Officer position, Joe takes on a new campaign to make a potential client’s brand more appealing to a younger demographic. He sees an opportunity to conduct some “market research” after being accidentally added to a Gen Z group chat.
Jumping at the chance to mingle with a younger crowd, Joe tags along as the group gears up for a wild bachelor’s party in Miami over the weekend. He sticks out like a sore thumb, and things come to a head when he gets into trouble with a Miami drug lord. Hijinks ensue as Joe gets embroiled in shady dealings and law enforcement, even as he tries to focus on his marketing “fieldwork.” 72 Hours pits Hart’s comedic chops against Saturday Night Live alums Marcello Hernández, Ben Marshall, Kam Patterson, along with an ensemble cast featuring Mason Gooding (Scream 7), Zach Cherry (Severance), Michael Mando (Better Call Saul), and Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another).
The breakout success of 72 Hours is quite surprising, considering how critics and audiences overwhelmingly panned the film. RogerEbert.com’s Robert Daniels also noted how the movie often confuses Joe Nixon with Hart’s real-life personas, and how the story could have been better served with a little drama. It’s also easy to compare the film with The Hangover, which has a similar premise and even a crime subplot. Hart’s attempt at raunchy comedy draws some easy laughs, however, and for many Netflix subscribers, that’s more than enough.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
