Die Hart review: Short-form TV series highlights Kevin Hart’s strengths
The empire of American comedy king Kevin Hart continues to grow with Die Hart, the bite-size action-comedy series that satirises both his reputation and the action movie genre as a whole. The show was originally part of the now-defunct Quibi platform, which was never released in the UK. However, failure of an app doesn’t mean failure of a show, with the first season already breaking records and green-lighting a second season on new home Roku.
The series sees Hart play a fictional version of himself, tired of being seen as a sidekick to Dwayne Johnson and hungry to establish himself as an action lead. After a very public breakdown, he is approached by a celebrated action director (Jean Reno) to be in his next movie. Before he can do that, he is asked to enrol in an action training school run by the mysterious Ron Wilcox (John Travolta). Bemused by Ron’s unusual methods, Kevin and fellow trainee Jordan (Nathalie Emmanuel) begin to suspect all is not what it seems.
Whether viewing the whole season in one lump or in the originally intended “Quick Bites”, the 7-9 minute episode length makes for an interesting experience. Basically, it’s an 80-minute Kevin Hart movie chopped up, with episodes feeling more like extended sketches than one cohesive story. The first four chapters are what you expect: Hart being ridiculed by his co-stars, with his indignant response undermined by more slapstick. Just as the formula gets repetitive, a mid-season twist opens things up for more action in the second half.
Hart’s main co-star is Travolta, having a lot of fun as the acting teacher from hell. He gives a lot of energy to antics such as making his students diffuse bombs on wires, or recounting dubious anecdotes like Tom Cruise insisting on being called Ethan Hunt when he has sex. He’s not on Hart’s comedic level but he seems to be leaning in to his eccentric public image. Emmanuel is excellent as the student who succeeds wherever Hart fails, and there’s even a brief appearance from Josh Hartnett as one of Ron’s former students.
It’s hardly must-see TV, but it isn’t trying to be. As foul-mouthed an energetic as its star, Die Hart doesn’t have time to sweat the small stuff, giving fans of the Jumanji actor’s antics exactly what they want in digestible chunks.
Die Hart is streaming now on The Roku Channel, available on Roku and NOW Streaming Devices, as well as Sky Q.