Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action-comedy is charming but predictable; some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Central Intelligence
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 34 parent reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 98 kid reviews
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, Calvin Joiner (Kevin Hart) isn't looking forward to his 20th high school reunion. Never mind that he was the most popular kid in school when he graduated, ruling student government, track, academics, and pretty much everything else. Now, at 38, he feels far from successful, stuck in an accounting job that he's good at but doesn't love and waiting to do something great. His wife, Maggie (Danielle Nicolet), thinks he's having a mid-life crisis and insists they see a therapist. Then comes a Facebook friend request from Bob Stone (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), AKA Robert Weirdicht, who became notorious in high school as the butt of a really mean prank: When a bunch of guys threw him, naked, into the middle of the gym floor during an assembly, only Calvin helped him out. Now Bob -- a CIA agent who's never forgotten Calvin's kindness -- wants Calvin to go to the reunion, but not without a detour that has them chasing "bad guys" supposedly involved in a global conspiracy. Bob may no longer be the scared, overweight teen he once was, but is he really the good guy he says he is?
Is It Any Good?
By now, Hart's signature patter ought to have grown tiresome, but somehow that's not the case in this film. He talks so much in some scenes that, no matter how hard you resist, he wins you over by the time he utters his last sentence. And Johnson is so winning in his awkwardness, earnestness, and general big-heartedness that audiences will almost be able to forgive his lack of range.
That said, Central Intelligence has plenty of holes, and it drags many of the jokes out, ruining their momentum. But the chemistry between the two leads is unmistakable, elevating an otherwise predictable script. See it for Hart and Johnson, but be ready for a formulaic -- albeit sometimes funny -- ride.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Central Intelligence. How does the movie's comedic tone affect its impact? Are all types of media violence created equal?
What role does bullying play in the story? How does it affect the characters? How did Calvin's reaction impact Bob, both in the short term and later in his life? How did it demonstrate empathy?
What roles do the women in this film play? Are they fully realized characters? Why or why not?
Talk about buddy comedies: What makes them work (or not)? Does Central Intelligence break new ground in the genre? Does it have to?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 17, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : September 27, 2016
- Cast : Dwayne The Rock Johnson , Kevin Hart , Aaron Paul
- Director : Rawson Marshall Thurber
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude and suggestive humor, some nudity, action violence and brief strong language
- Last updated : February 17, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate