Central Intelligence

Plot

In 1996, star athlete Calvin "The Golden Jet" Joyner is honored at Central High. During his speech, bullies throw the obese nerd Robbie Weirdicht, who had been dancing in the locker room, naked into the gymnasium. Joyner and his girlfriend Maggie are the only ones sympathetic, with Joyner covering him with his jacket. Twenty years later, Joyner is a dissatisfied forensic accountant married to Maggie.

He receives a Facebook friend request from "Bob Stone," who turns out to be the transformed, muscular Weirdicht. Stone asks Joyner to review online transactions, revealing a multimillion-dollar auction with bidders from radical countries. CIA agents led by Pamela Harris arrive, claiming Stone is a rogue agent who murdered his partner. Stone abducts Joyner, explaining he is trying to stop a criminal called the "Black Badger" from selling satellite codes.

After a bounty hunter attack, Joyner flees and Harris intercepts him, claiming Stone is the Black Badger and giving him a device to track Stone.

Cast

Kevin Hart plays Calvin "Golden Jet" Joyner, a former popular athlete turned accountant. Dwayne Johnson portrays Bob Stone, formerly Robbie Weirdicht, a bullied high school student who becomes a muscular CIA agent and hand-to-hand combatant obsessed with Sixteen Candles and Road House. Sione Kelepi plays young Robbie.

Amy Ryan is Agent Pamela Harris, who suspects Bob is a rogue agent. Jason Bateman portrays Trevor Olson, a former bully. Dylan Boyack plays young Trevor.

Danielle Nicolet is Maggie Joyner, Calvin's wife. Megan Park appears as Lexi, a waitress. Thomas Kretschmann plays the buyer of satellite codes. Melissa McCarthy appears uncredited as Darla McGuchian, Robbie's former crush.

Kumail Nanjiani plays Jared, an airport security guard. Ryan Hansen is Steve, a coworker of Calvin. Slaine plays Thugged Out.

Production

Universal Pictures greenlit the script in 2010, with Rawson Marshall Thurber selected to direct and co-write with Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen. Thurber convinced New Line Cinema to buy the script, making Warner Bros. Pictures the domestic distributor.

Dwayne Johnson was cast alongside Kevin Hart. Principal photography began on May 6, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia, and various Massachusetts locations including Boston, Burlington, Lynn, Middleton, Winchester, Somerville, and Quincy, ending in July 2015. Johnson and Hart had an Instagram war against each other on set to promote the film.

Reception

Central Intelligence grossed $127.4 million in North America and $89.5 million in other territories, totaling $216.9 million against a $50 million budget. Deadline Hollywood calculated a net profit of $52 million. Opening on June 17, 2016, alongside Finding Dory, it was projected to gross around $30 million from 3,508 theaters. It earned $1.8 million from Thursday previews and $13 million on its first day, finishing with $35.5 million, second behind Finding Dory.

On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 71% approval rating based on 184 reviews, with an average rating of 5.76/10. The critical consensus states that Johnson and Hart make well-matched comic foils, helping the film overcome a script that coasts on their chemistry. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. CinemaScore audiences gave it an A−, and PostTrak reported a 75% positive score with 55% definite recommend.

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave it two out of four stars, criticizing the story. Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of The A.V. Club called it a shambolic high-concept farce. Keith Phipps of Uproxx gave a positive review, calling it a breezy, undemanding comedy.

Did You Know?

• Central Intelligence was released on Digital HD on September 13, 2016, and on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD on September 27, 2016.
• A sequel was in development as of November 2021 but was delayed in favor of the Jumanji sequels.