Summary
Kevin Hart: Reality Check sees Hart give a gentle reminder that he is one of the best to ever hit the stage.
This review of the Peacock film Kevin Hart: Reality Check does not contain spoilers.
Between 2009 and 2020, Kevin Hart released over seven stand-up comedy specials while doing two full tours across the world. Of course, Hart didn’t stop working between 2020 and 2023; he was making hit movies left and right. However, after four years of not being on a worldwide tour, Hart returned to the stage for the Reality Check Tour. And after a three-year hiatus, Hart is set to return to the stage for his eighth stand-up comedy special but his first for Peacock, Kevin Hart: Reality Check.
Kevin Hart: Reality Check review and plot summary
Reality Check sees Kevin Hart hit the stage to talk about his ever-growing family, his father’s ability to give great nicknames and his feelings about Black Twitter.
The special kicks off with an elaborate opening with Kevin being driven to the arena, and he hits the stage with a baseball bat in his hand. Of course, the bat is to “protect” himself in case someone tries to hit the stage like they did with Chappelle. He mentions that he is about to tell jokes and for the audience to unclench their butt cheeks and enjoy the ride.
Hart opens the show by talking about plastic surgery and how it has changed over the years, from making fun of Lebron for growing hair overnight to someone taking fat out of their back and adding it to his legs to make him taller. A strong opening monologue from Hart sets the tone early.
As mentioned, Hart hadn’t done a special in over three years, and what I loved about this special was the fact it was reminiscent of the old Kevin Hart, the joke writer who didn’t care about who he might offend or what might come from one of his jokes. Hart never really crossed many lines over the years, so this felt like a refreshed Kevin Hart with a chip on his shoulder.
Nobody on this planet is as good on stage as Kevin Hart. From his hand gestures to his voices to his facial expressions, it’s truly incredible how he elevates each of his jokes with these mannerisms. Another thing he does perfectly is the callbacks to his jokes from earlier on the show — heck, his callbacks to his past specials are fantastic. His on-point joke-writing skills allow him to intertwine things that shouldn’t make sense.
Is Reality Check good or bad?
In 2023 we’ve seen some heavy-hitting stand-up specials from some new faces and some veterans. Hart quickly reminds us that he is one of the best of the best, not just of this era but of all time. Reality Check ranks amongst Hart’s best work on the stage as we watch a man find a new lease on life. I credit this to that time off, which let him get back into the world of writing and processing things happening around him.
Is Kevin Hart: Reality Check worth watching?
Fans of Kevin Hart will have a blast with Reality Check. If you are like me and saw Hart on his Reality Check Tour, you might realize that the material is identical. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the special as it felt fresh (mainly because I forgot half the jokes). This is Kevin Hart at the top of his game, and you don’t want to miss it.
What did you think of Kevin Hart: Reality Check? Comment below.
You can watch this film with a subscription to Peacock.
