CinePals
CinePals
February 27, 2026

RIDE ALONG 2 (2016) Movie Reaction! | First Time Watch! | Ice Cube | Kevin Hart | Ken Jeong

Quick Read

CinePals hosts Jabby Koay and Vivian Day deliver a high-energy, laugh-out-loud reaction to 'Ride Along 2,' praising its amplified action and comedy while critiquing its 'social media-style' editing.
The sequel delivers more action and humor, surpassing the first film for the hosts.
Kevin Hart and Ice Cube's comedic chemistry is a highlight, with Ken Jeong's addition being a standout.
Overly fast, 'social media-like' editing hinders the film's comedic timing and overall flow.

Summary

Jabby Koay and Vivian Day react to 'Ride Along 2,' finding it more enjoyable and action-packed than its predecessor, despite a predictable plot. They highlight the strong comedic dynamic between Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, praising Hart's physical comedy and Ice Cube's understated reactions. Ken Jeong's character, AJ, is lauded as a significant and effective addition, likened to a 'Joe Pesci character.' However, the hosts heavily criticize the film's 'social media' style editing, which they felt was too fast and detracted from enjoying comedic moments. They also discuss the underutilization of Olivia Munn's character and the implausibility of the main characters' lavish lifestyle on police salaries. The episode concludes with a strong desire for a 'Ride Along 3,' envisioning a natural progression into Ben's fatherhood.
This reaction provides a detailed, scene-by-scene breakdown of 'Ride Along 2,' offering specific critiques and praises that go beyond typical movie reviews. For fans of the film or the actors, it offers an engaging, humorous, and opinionated perspective on the movie's strengths (action, comedic performances) and weaknesses (editing, character development). The discussion about the potential for future sequels and the evolution of the characters adds value for those invested in the franchise.

Takeaways

  • The hosts found 'Ride Along 2' more fun and action-oriented than the original.
  • Kevin Hart's character, Ben, is praised for his physical comedy and the hosts' enjoyment of his portrayal.
  • Ice Cube's 'understated' acting effectively complements Hart's high energy.
  • Ken Jeong's character, AJ, is considered a valuable and hilarious addition to the cast.
  • The film's editing is heavily criticized for being too fast, resembling 'social media editing,' which detracts from comedic beats.
  • Olivia Munn's character, Detective Cruz, was seen as underutilized, with the hosts wishing she had more to do.
  • The plot was largely predictable, a characteristic shared with the first 'Ride Along' film.
  • A 'Ride Along 3' is desired, with ideas for Ben's character to navigate fatherhood and family life.

Insights

1Overly Aggressive Editing Undermines Comedy

The hosts repeatedly criticized the film's fast-paced, 'social media-like' editing, arguing it moved too quickly through scenes, especially comedic moments. This rapid cutting prevented jokes and character reactions, particularly Kevin Hart's, from fully landing and being appreciated by the audience.

Vivian states, 'It was edited almost like someone on Coke was editing sometimes. I'm like, this is way too fast for what this is. It felt like social media editing a little bit.' Jabby adds, 'The movie is just trying to get out the door as fast as possible.'

2Ken Jeong's Character Elevates the Ensemble

Ken Jeong's portrayal of hacker AJ is highlighted as a significant improvement over his previous roles, effectively adding to the film's humor without being 'too much.' His character is seen as a strong, almost 'Joe Pesci-like' addition to the dynamic.

Vivian notes, 'He did such a good job of adding to the film because normally when he shows up I get a little bit of apprehension 'cuz I'm like he can be a lot... here I thought he added to things exceptionally.' Jabby compares him to 'the Joe Pesci character of the Lethal Weapon series.'

3Underutilization of Olivia Munn's Character

Despite her strong presence, Olivia Munn's character, Detective Cruz, felt underwritten and sidelined as the movie progressed. The hosts wished for more substantial involvement and character development for her.

Vivian expresses, 'I wish she was just like given more to do... I definitely wanted more from her character.' Jabby observes, 'as the movie went along, it felt like they were trying to cut away from her as fast as possible.'

4Ice Cube's Understated Acting Style

Ice Cube's consistent, understated acting approach is praised for effectively complementing his co-stars, particularly Kevin Hart's energetic performance. This dynamic works well for the action-comedy genre.

Jabby states, 'Every time Ice Cube signs up for a film, it seems like he does a good job of just understanding what his role is in that dynamic... he just owns it very effectively.'

5Desire for 'Ride Along 3' with Evolving Character Arcs

The hosts express a strong desire for a third installment, suggesting a natural progression for Kevin Hart's character, Ben, into fatherhood. This would introduce new comedic and dramatic stakes, evolving the franchise beyond its current buddy-cop formula.

Jabby speculates, 'Wouldn't it be hilarious to see Ben be a dad and then, you know, his partner being an uncle and trying to like navigate that part of their lives now where they're like really family people and they have to like be safe and even more careful.'

Notable Moments

The hosts' strong reaction to the opening action sequence, comparing it to 'Fast and Furious.'

This sets the tone for the movie's increased action focus and immediately hooks the hosts, indicating a positive shift from the first film.

Discussion of Ben and Angela's implausibly lavish lifestyle on police and teacher salaries.

This highlights a common movie trope where character finances don't align with their depicted living standards, leading to a humorous, albeit minor, critique of realism.

The hosts' shared frustration with the film's rapid editing style, likening it to 'social media editing.'

This points to a broader trend in modern filmmaking and how it can impact comedic timing and audience engagement.

Quotes

"

"This almost feels like Fast and Furious. Absolutely. Like if you just showed me this, I would have thought it was a clip from Fast and Furious."

Vivian Day
"

"I think it was Ken Jong in his standup special who was like, 'Asian guys and black women are statistically the least likely to get married. Why don't we get together? Let's change those numbers, baby.'"

Vivian Day
"

"Kevin Hart was next to useless after getting this rolling."

Jabby Koay
"

"It was edited almost like someone on Coke was editing sometimes. I'm like, this is way too fast for what this is. It felt like social media editing a little bit."

Vivian Day
"

"Every time Ice Cube signs up for a film, it seems like he does a good job of just understanding what his role is in that dynamic, whatever it might be. He just owns it very effectively."

Jabby Koay

Q&A

Recent Questions

Related Episodes