Me Time Movie Review: A Comedy Flop Despite Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg's Genius

There’s a movie that dropped on Netflix in August called Me Time, starring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg. I had high hopes. Hart’s recent films—The Man From Toronto, Fatherhood, and Jumanji—were all fantastic. Smart scripts, solid direction, and performances that landed. But Me Time? The best thing I can say is that it made me want to see Hart and Wahlberg in literally any other film together—just not this one.

Mark Wahlberg is an interesting actor. In a way, he plays the same character over and over, regardless of the script. But he’s a risk-taker, and that often works. His timing—comedic and dramatic—is phenomenal when the direction supports him. I’ve enjoyed nearly all his films (except maybe The Happening). If you haven’t seen Rockstar, you should. It might be my favorite Wahlberg performance. When paired with someone he has real chemistry with, Wahlberg can rival the best comedic actors in the business.

Kevin Hart is a different kind of performer. Like Wahlberg, he plays variations of himself, but his energy is distinct. His comedic timing is razor-sharp, and he doesn’t hold back. That kind of vulnerability is rare, especially in today’s industry. So, when I heard they were making a movie together, I was genuinely excited.

Unfortunately, Me Time was awful. The movie was terrible. And when a film is that bad, I can’t turn it off. I sat with it, trying to understand what went wrong. I research the production, hoping for some explanation. That’s when I saw the name: John Hamburg.

Hamburg directed Me Time. He also directed Why Him?, Little Fockers, and I Love You, Man!—and every one of those films missed the mark. There are moments in each that work, but something always feels off. Why Him? had a pairing of Bryan Cranston and James Franco that should’ve worked. It didn’t. I Love You, Man! was well received, but despite a strong story and script, it’s my least favorite film featuring Paul Rudd. The direction dulled the edges.

Hamburg’s films consistently underperform relative to their potential. If someone like Shawn Levy or David Dobkin had directed Me Time, it might’ve worked. At the very least, Me Time succeeded in exposing Hamburg’s limitations.

I still believe Hart and Wahlberg could have incredible comedic chemistry. They deserve another shot, under a director who knows what they’re doing. As for Hamburg, I doubt I’ll sit through another one of his films. He’s capable of writing a decent script. But he should leave the directing to someone else.