Introverts know “Me Time” is an important concept for anybody who desires it. I feel sorry for the protagonist of the film feeling like he had to give up on Me Time to accommodate a buddy. Actually it was less that feeling than a series of near disasters during his personal Me Time that convinced him he’s better off with people. That kinda frightens me. I’m not saying this is my whole life, but when you get to my level of introversion, you understand the following: you know those shirts that say, “my worst day of fishing beats my best day of work?” Substitute “being alone” for “fishing” and “social gathering” for “day of work” and you might find me.
I went into this film feeling like I’d seen it already; the early returns did nothing to change my mood. Huh, Kevin Hart is playing the reluctant underdog and Mark Wahlberg is playing the aloof trouble-making best friend. I know I’ve seen these guys play these roles already. And I know exactly what’s going to happen: Huck (Wahlberg) is going to convince Sonny (Hart) to do a bunch of dumb crap with him that will result in property damage and possible arrest which would normally put an insurmountable strain on both their friendship and his marriage, but this being a movie, everything will work out and best friends will be the conclusion.
Am I right? That’s not only predictable; that’s a terrible film. I feel sorry for people that want to see that in a film.
Hmmm, the deets: Sonny is a stay-at-home dad (very progressive, well done) with a power-maven architect for a wife in Regina Hall. Sonny has put all of his effort into supporting his family and when Maya (Hall, who had a very busy COVID; are we sure she’s not The Woman King? Heck “Regina” is already a perfect name for the role; ask Regina King) takes the kids to see grandpa, she suggests that Sonny enjoy himself for the first time in years. She even suggests he get together with estranged bad influence Huck (Wahlberg). Sonny is reluctant because of course he is. As Mark Wahlberg is in the cast, however, it is only a matter of time before there’s A LOT of Mark Wahlberg and none of it good. I think this is where the “humor” comes in.
Is a group bus trip to Wahlberg-a-palooza, a barren desert retreat where occupants are encouraged to hunt and kill their own meat, funny? I’m guessing to some it is. Me … less. On top of that, a really awful storyline 
pokes up where “rival suitor” Armando (Luis Gerardo Méndez) keeps showing up around Maya. I will never NOT hate the plot where a married man is jealous of another man paying attention to his wife. This is fodder for the worst of toxic masculinity.
Films like this sometimes know right off the top that genuine humor is not going to happen, so they opt for the sensational. Hence, we get to the heart of Me Time which includes Mark Wahlberg naked, Kevin Hart being attacked by a cougar, a party bus with Mark Wahlberg’s giant face painted on the side, Seal showing up for no reason, and last –but neither least nor limited to- a scene of Kevin Hart pleasuring himself (which is, coincidentally and unfortunately, exactly what I thought of when I saw the title to the film).
At some point while watching Me Time, you are going to ask yourself, “Should I continue watching Me Time?” I am fairly certain you will do this. My honest answer is that while you may well see something you never saw on screen before, I don’t think the investment is worth it.
There once was a dad named Sonny
Who had one spectacular honey
But a rival was bred
So Sonny pooped in his bed
And we’re all supposed to think that it’s funny
Rated R, 101 Minutes
Director: John Hamburg
Writer: John Hamburg
Genre: Studio decision, comedy category
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: People who die for the sensational
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: People with a genuine sense of humor
