Night School

Cert: 12A; Now showing

He writes, he produces and he stars, and yet Kevin Hart seems to spend lingering moments of this witless tosh looking like he is making it all up on the spot, constantly trying to stay afloat when even he knows Night School is dead in the water.

Hart bleats his way through the role of Teddy, a high school dosser who walks out of class rather than face an exam. Years later, he is a salesman at an electrics store, driving a Porsche on hire-purchase and doting over luscious and far more successful girlfriend Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke).

Life is upended when he loses his job after accidentally destroying his workplace while proposing to Lisa. If he is to avail of a job offer from his pal in finance, he must go back and get his high school exams. This involves night classes with gutbusting teacher Carrie (Tiffany Haddish) and every single back-to-school cliche you can think of.

One or two soft harrumphs of laughter might escape your mouth during the nearly two hours of your life that Night School eats up, which, frankly, is not nearly enough. The plot is achingly threadbare — grown man returns to school to learn about life — while the gags are littered with awkward moments where targets are missed and the one-note, Neanderthal humour is shown up for what it is.

Haddish, a storm of sass whose foot connects satisfyingly with Hart’s rear on occasion, is the film’s sole saving grace. We hope she moves on from this sorry experience post-haste.

HILARY A WHITE