Film

Ride Along

Name: Ride Along
Genre: Action, Comedy
Released: 2014
Cast: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, John Leguizamo, Bruce McGill, Tika Sumpter

A comedy buddy cop ride-along where an earnest security guard tries to prove himself to his girlfriend's intimidating detective brother. Ice Cube and Kevin Hart spark off each other with genuine chemistry—Cube's deadpan exasperation playing beautifully against Hart's manic energy. It's unpretentious fun that knows exactly what it is: a vehicle for two comedians to riff, shoot guns, and navigate both a criminal underworld and family dynamics.

TMDb rating

3.1

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a loud, broad buddy picture where a jittery wannabe brother-in-law and a grim cop bounce off each other, and you're happy to laugh at the mouth more than the plot.

Skip it if you find the bickering-cop-and-nervous-rookie setup thin, or want a film that earns its tension rather than leaning on jokes and cheerful gunfire.

What it asks of you: Settle in for about an hour and a half of light, easygoing attention, mostly riding in a patrol car while the jokes come thick and the stakes stay modest.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Beverly Hills Cop1984

The template for wise-cracking cop comedies. Eddie Murphy's improvisation over a tight action plot shows you where the formula came from, and how much energy and charm can carry a film.

But The '80s sheen and some gender politics feel dated now. It's also slower-paced than Ride Along—less frantic, more studied.

21 Jump Street2012

Released the same year, same DNA: two comedians with real chemistry in a vehicle designed around their banter while actual crimes happen nearby. Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum nail the bickering-partners dynamic.

But Self-aware to the point of occasionally winking at the camera. If you prefer your comedy grounded, the meta-commentary can feel thin.

Rush Hour1998

Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker redefined the buddy cop formula for the '90s. Chan's physical comedy and Tucker's verbal assault create an irresistible contrast. Genuinely funny, genuinely thrilling.

But Tucker's shouty energy isn't for everyone—if you find him grating, you've got ninety minutes of him at full volume.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Ride Along

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Police Story1985

Both are films where comedy and action don't compromise each other—the humor comes from the character dynamics and situations, not from joke breaks. The rhythm is the same: partners bickering, then having to trust each other under fire.

Jackie Chan doing what he does best: turning his body into a weapon and making you laugh while he destroys himself doing it. Pure kinetic comedy with real danger underneath.

But Dubbed from Cantonese and the plot is tissue-thin. The action grammar is different from American cop comedies—it's balletic, not punchy.

Tropic Thunder2008

An ensemble action-comedy that understands the genre's absurdity while still delivering real set pieces and stakes. Sharp, chaotic, genuinely inventive in how it blends action and laughs.

But Crammed with references that require some film knowledge to land. The humor is also darker and meaner than Ride Along.

The Other Guys2010

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as mismatched detectives. Wahlberg playing it straight while Ferrell improvises around him creates surprisingly smart comedy underneath the mayhem.

But Wahlberg's deadpan style can feel cold. The plot is thin even by buddy-cop standards, so you're really just here for the dynamic.

Central Intelligence2016

Hart and Dwayne Johnson's chemistry is effortless. It's a lighter film than most action comedies—more interested in fun and heart than cynicism.

But The plot is utterly forgettable and the action sequences feel perfunctory. It's basically two charismatic people hanging out for two hours.

White House Down2013

Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in a action film that doesn't take itself too seriously. The chemistry between the leads carries you through some genuinely fun set pieces.

But The tone is confused—it wants to be funny, thrilling, and earnest simultaneously, and doesn't quite land any of them completely.

Lethal Weapon1987

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover established the exhausted-cop-and-crazy-cop pairing. The action is actually excellent and the emotional stakes feel real beneath the comedy.

But The racial politics are complicated by modern standards. It's also considerably grittier and darker than Ride Along.

The Nice Guys2016

Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe as mismatched detectives in 1970s LA. Witty, beautifully shot, and the two leads genuinely seem to enjoy needling each other.

But It's a mystery-buddy film rather than pure action-comedy, so the plot actually demands attention. The pacing is leisurely.

The Guard2011

A film about a cop proving he's more capable than his appearance or reputation suggests. The buddy dynamic comes from mutual underestimation—Gleeson's character playing the fool while being sharper than anyone realized.

Brendan Gleeson as an Irish policeman who seems like comic relief until he isn't, paired with Mark Strong's FBI agent. A small film with real darkness beneath the charm and unexpected emotional weight.

But It's quieter and sadder than Ride Along, set in rural Ireland rather than a thriving city. The humor is drier and more character-based.

Pineapple Express2008

Like Ride Along, it's built on genuine affection between its leads and the comedy that emerges from watching people who shouldn't be action heroes suddenly have to be. Both films let their characters be incompetent without punishing them for it.

Seth Rogen and James Franco as a stoner and his dealer caught in a crime plot. The chemistry is genuine, the action surprisingly well-executed, and it treats its goofy premise with unexpected sincerity.

But It's a weed comedy first, which narrows the audience. The humor is juvenile and the plot requires patience with characters making dumb decisions.