Parents' Guide to

Ride Along

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Odd-couple buddy-cop flick is violent, predictable but fun.

Movie PG-13 2014 100 minutes
Ride Along Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Accurate P.
Accurate P. Parent of 15-year-old
February 23, 2023
age 13+
The N-word is used twice (just explain to your child that they should never use that word) and one scene takes place in a strip club (just explain to your child that places like that are bad) and there is quite a bit of violence (90% of it is completely bloodless). Overall, I’d say it's a 13+.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
SniperMan
SniperMan Adult
June 1, 2020
age 11+

good movie

there is on f word and they go to strip club no boobs there are a lot of s**t there are guns a shot people in game and real life

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A never-before-seen crime lord named Omar is building a presence in Atlanta, and detective James (Ice Cube) has been working his sources trying to identify and nab him before he does major damage. But the elusive mastermind keeps slipping his grasp. Meantime, his sister, Angela (Tamika Sumpter), is close to getting engaged with her boyfriend, Ben (Kevin Hart), a high school guard who thinks he has the goods to become a full-fledged cop (he's just been accepted to the police academy), thanks to his considerable video-gaming prowess. James wants to dissuade Ben from his line of work, and perhaps scare him off forever (from the job and his sister) by inviting him to ride along one day at work. But predictably, things go awry.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10):
Kids say (39):

RIDE ALONG won't breathe new life into the buddy-cop genre. It hews pretty much to the tried-and-true (and tired) principles, which include making sure said would-be buddies hate each other in the beginning, and wind up friends in the end. Much chaos and hilarity ensue in between. But here, plot points seem more superfluous than usual for the genre. The supposedly ridiculously hilarious setups don't seem ridiculous enough. (See: civilian confronting biker gang.)

Nonetheless, the movie perks up in its second half, with a delicious casting twist that will incite cheers and Hart and Ice Cube displaying chemistry before unseen. If only their earlier animosity had been convincing and creative. Instead, it relies on the usual and irritatingly superficial tropes (Ben talks too much). Also, it's a pity to see John Leguizamo relegated to a thankless small role; his signature banter could have enlivened earlier proceedings. The fairly thrilling driving sequences that open the film do a good job of luring audiences in, though. And by time time the movie ends, Hart wins you over, but only just.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's take on video game violence. Ben appears to tap into skills he learned playing them, but does the film gloss over any downsides?

  • How does a movie's tone affect the impact of violent content?

  • Was it surprising to learn who the bad guys are? What do you think drove the choices they made?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: January 17, 2014
  • On DVD or streaming: April 15, 2014
  • Cast: Ice Cube, John Leguizamo, Kevin Hart
  • Director: Tim Story
  • Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors, Latinx actors
  • Studio: Universal Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Topics: Friendship
  • Run time: 100 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: sequences of violence, sexual content and brief strong language
  • Last updated: April 1, 2023

Inclusion information powered by

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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