Film Review – 72 Hours (2026)

      **72 Hours, 2026.**

      Directed by Tim Story.

      Featuring Kevin Hart, Marcello Hernández, Teyana Taylor, Andy Garcia, Mason Gooding, Kam Patterson, Ben Marshall, Kevin Dunn, Zach Cherry, Michael Mando, Anna Garcia, Mike Epps, Katt Williams, Sophia Del Rio, and Hannah Masi.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      A 40-year-old executive mistakenly finds himself at a three-day bachelor party with a group of twenty-somethings after being added to their chat group.

      A significant portion of Tim Story’s **72 Hours** showcases Kevin Hart’s character, Joe Nixon, adopting the accent of a Tony Montana impersonator after using cocaine, occasionally slipping into other questionable accents as well. One of the younger Generation Z men at the bachelor party rightly points out that this behavior is racist and inappropriate for today’s society. Both Joe and the film (based on a screenplay by Jon Hurwitz, Kevin Burrows, Hayden Schlossberg, and Matt Mider) seem to be aware of this but don’t seem to care. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the film actually put in the effort to be clever and humorous. Unfortunately, it comes off as lazy, embodying the kind of comedy one would expect from Netflix.

      Playing a vodka marketing executive hopeful for a promotion, Joe is denied due to his inability to connect with the youth or understand their preferences. To improve his advertising skills, he goes undercover by covering the Airbnb expenses for the group he randomly joined in a bachelor party chat. The logistics of this scenario are nonsensical (wouldn’t they already have a group chat for planning their bachelor activities?). Even if one could grasp the absurdity of how quickly these young men accept a 40-something stranger into their Miami adventure, it remains unamusing. The comedy relies heavily on crude humor, exemplified by scenes where Kevin Hart vomits on everyone in a private ride, or a comedic bit involving whale penises.

      There are also two additional unnecessary plotlines that detract from the already weak humor; the first involves Joe’s hesitation about marrying his long-time girlfriend (Teyana Taylor, whose talent is wasted in a minor role), and the second is that the Airbnb he selects serves as a front for drug trafficking. This aspect transforms parts of the film into a subpar action experience. Tim Story has achieved success in both comedy and action previously, but his partnerships with Kevin Hart (like in **Ride Along**) usually highlight the worst of both genres. Still, I yearn for a healthier cinematic landscape valuing comedies that might have been relegated to January releases, but that’s another topic.

      A redeeming quality of **72 Hours** is its challenge to youth culture, showcasing a group that values time spent together over incessantly posting on social media. This presents difficulties for Joe in obtaining footage for marketing purposes until his sleazy co-worker (Zach Cherry), stuck in a loveless marriage, reveals that he brought an unethical recording device, something creepier than glasses, in hopes of getting shots of naked women during the bachelor festivities.

      Additionally, Mason Gooding’s groom character genuinely looks forward to marriage, contrasting with their group leader (Marcello Hernandez), who displays the maturity of a fifth grader, crudely mocking his friend’s romantic feelings. Their other companions include a pushover who is repeatedly cheated on (Ben Marshall), needing to boost his self-esteem, and the obligatory simpleton, played by Kam Patterson, who hilariously misinterprets many statements and stands out as the film’s comedic highlight with excellent timing.

      While there are a few amusing moments and lines throughout, it’s refreshing to see Kevin Hart portray someone who appears more mature, attempting to guide others through their issues and immature phases. However, he nonetheless plays a familiar character with the same high-energy performance that quickly becomes tiresome. This is especially true when the overly unfunny Tony Montana impression takes over, as if the filmmakers believe they have discovered a genuinely humorous moment.

      Beyond its confusion regarding its intended genre, **72 Hours** confuses shock value and discomfort with comedy. While that can be humorous, this film is cranked up to eleven, trying too hard at every turn while remaining completely cliché. Although the film spans a total of 72 hours, it often flounders 72% of the time.

      **Flickering Myth Rating** – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder