Romantic chemistry is rare in the movies, comic chemistry rarer still, and sadly there isn't much on offer in this action buddy comedy. Ice Cube is James Payton, a tough Atlanta cop who is forced to take dopey security guard Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) for a "ride along" one day, a work-experience thing forced on him because Ben yearns to join the police and is dating James's hot sister Angela (Tika Sumpter) who thinks it would be nice for them to bond. Inevitably, James is infuriated by Ben's goofy over-excitability and incompetence, but then the odd couple get into a scary situation – and maybe Ben could be a hero after all. The movie gets off to a flyer with a boisterous action sequence at the beginning, but then we settle into something very average. As the bad guy, Laurence Fishburne is just texting it in with one thumb. As for Kevin Hart – whose recent live movie Let Me Explain was reasonably funny — he has some good material, but Ice Cube is not a real straight man, more a stilted action lead who figures he should just stay still while Hart breaks out the supposedly funny stuff. It feels like he's the one along for the ride.