Mikes Film Talk

The 2025 Action/Comedy film Playdate proves once and for all, that Reacher does comedy. Very well, thank you. Alan Ritchson, aka; Jack Reacher had a funny moment or two in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. This time, though, with the help of a funny script and Kevin James, he’s “off the bloody chain.” *Bonus points if you know what film that quote comes from.*

Playdate Story

Brian gets fired and his wife Emily goes back to work. He looks after his stepson at home. He meets another “stay at home” dad who sets up a playdate. Everything goes South from there.

Playdate Cast

Alan Ritchson is Jeff Eamon.

Kevin James is Brian Jennings.

Banks Pierce is CJ.

Benjamin Pajak is Lucas.

Alan Tudyk is Simon Maddox.

Sarah Chalke is Emily.

Stephen Root is Gordon.

Isla Fisher is Leslie.

Hiro Kanagawa is Colonel Kurtz.

Let’s Talk Playdate

It may just be me, but I found Playdate to be outrageously funny. I adore Kevin James, I have done since True Memoirs of an International Assassin and of course Paul Blart: Mall Cop. The idea of James and Ritchson being a “dynamic duo” of sorts is funny. It is not, however, just the ridiculous pairing that works, it is the script itself.

Some of the lines are just this side of brilliant.

“Jeff’s not my dad. Jeff’s not your dad? No. Who…who is he? I don’t know. He just took me.”

This little exchange cues “Bri-Bri” to attempt rescuing CJ from Jeff by scarpering out of Buckee Pizza. More hilarity follows.

Massive “yuks” aside, the film has a lot going on. There is a long distant car chase sequence that is beyond brilliant. This film fires on all cylinders and wins. Director Luke Greenfield delivers the script by Neil Goldman and it is a match made in heaven.

It Works

Playdate is the perfect storm here. Everyone knocks their respective roles out of the metaphorical park. Isla Fisher as the head of the Mommy Mafia, Alan Tudyk as supernerd Simon Maxwell, and Stephen Root as Jeff’s no account dad, Gordon.

The real fun here is the two “kids.” Banks Pierce and Benjamin Pajak as CJ and Lucas respectively, hit a homerun. Twice.

The story, as convoluted as it may seem, it actually rather good. Initially this feels like yet another oil and water mashup. It felt, at first, that this could have been a pairing of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, a la 2016’s Central Intelligence. This turns out not to be the case. Playdate is light years away from the very funny Hart and Johnson pairing.

Once again, it is the innate funniness of the script that sells this odd tale. Take for example the entire Buckee Cheese portion of the film. Everything hits just right. Even the scene in the shooting gallery. The last girl shooting what look to be paintballs at Jeff, yells, “Yippie Kay Yay M….” as she pops off her weapon at Ritchson’s character.

The Verdict

Playdate is a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. It is funny, action packed and will even bring a hint of a tear to your eye. Oh, and Sarah Chalke is still as gorgeous in this as she was in Scrubs. The film is streaming on Prime right now. Head on over and check this one out. If for no other reason than to check out just how funny Alan Ritchson can be.

The Trailer