Kevin Hart: What Now?

Movie review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
Kevin Hart: What Now? Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Raunchy but funny stand-up movie has swearing, racy stories.

R 2016 96 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Kevin Hart: What Now? is a stand-up film that showcases Hart's frequently raunchy/adult humor. It opens with an long, surprisingly violent sequence in which Hart plays a James Bond-like character. He shoots several henchmen point-blank and then stabs a villain through the neck and is deluged with a fountain of blood. It's purposely over the top and played for laughs, but it's still shocking. Hart's comedy set also covers plenty of iffy topics: his sex life (he's faithful to his partner but tells profane stories about sex toys and aids), drinking stories, urgent bowel movements, and more. Expect lots of swearing, including "s--t," "f--k," the "N" word, and more. Hart also refers to his partner "bitch" with a mix of mockery and affection. While it's clear Hart is a loving family man, he sometimes mocks people with physical differences in a way that not all viewers will be comfortable with.

Community Reviews

Cristina M.
Cristina M. Adult
October 28, 2016
age 10+

Really.

Your kids are probably telling you that common sense media 'sucks'. Why? Because they always overate everything. They are right. My kids had me do some investigations by telling me to watch a bunch or PG13 movies then going and seeing what they say on common sense. My kids were right, I checked the kids rating and they turned out to be all fake. Probably made by hover mothers. The reviews had grammar that was just too well written. Not by any '9' year old. Anyways my point is you shouldn't trust too many of these reviews. Not all of them are true. This movie was great and funny by the way. My 10 & 11 year olds could easily handle them. PLEASE CONSIDER!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Filmed the night that comedian Kevin Hart sold out Philadelphia's 53,000-seat Lincoln Financial Field, KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW? captures the motor-mouthed comic live on stage. Delving into topics like his fears that his children are being "wrecked" by private schools, the wildlife in his yard, and his relationship with his fiancee, Hart keeps the huge crowd laughing. No holds are barred when he talks about his sex life, what a man with no knees might look like making love to his wife, and how he handles stains in his underwear.

Is It Any Good?

Hart takes center stage in this funny, profane concert film that's likely to please existing fans and make him some new ones. Now well into his successful comedy career, Hart is pleasingly upfront about both the "big celebrity" part of his life and his "average guy" home life in What Now? . Relating a story about a time he urgently had to use the bathroom in an airport, he confesses exactly why he doesn't want to go: "My biggest fear: Somebody snapping a picture of me going in or coming out and hashtagging it 'KevinHartstinkybutt.'"

Hart's family-life stories sometimes skate close to the edge -- one vivid anecdote captures a night he got spooked by a horror film and fled the house without his kids -- but also reveal him as a loving, present dad, which makes it easier for anyone likely to be easily offended to handle jokes about his dad's wheelchair-bound girlfriend and how quickly he'd break up with his fiancee if she were mauled by an animal. Hart's comedy is profane but rarely cruel, and though parents may not like younger teens watching due to the swearing and sexual content, if they do see it, they won't absorb harmful messages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Kevin Hart's many references to drinking in What Now?. Does he make it sound appealing, or a problem? Does it change your perspective at all to find out that Hart was arrested on a DUI charge in April 2013?

  • Does Hart use stereotypes in his act, especially when it comes to women? Is it OK to use stereotypes for humor? Do you think women are likely to find Hart's jokes as funny as men?

  • Are Hart's sexual references funny? Would you be uncomfortable watching this movie with your grandmother or younger sibling? Why or why not? Should sex always be a serious topic?

  • How did it make you feel when Hart poked fun at those with physical differences? Is that acceptable in the name of humor? Why or why not?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: October 14, 2016
  • On DVD or streaming: January 10, 2017
  • Cast: Kevin Hart
  • Directors: Leslie Small, Tim Story
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 96 minutes
  • MPAA rating: R
  • MPAA explanation: some sexual material, and language throughout
  • Last updated: February 18, 2023

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