‘Playdate’ Review: Alan Ritchson and Kevin James Keep This Ridiculous Prime Video Action-Comedy Watchable

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Nov 15

Brian (Kevin James) and Jeff (Alan Ritchson) in 'Playdate.' **DAVID BUKACH/PRIME**

A chaotic, good-natured suburban shootout that works on the strength of Alan Ritchson’s charm and Kevin James’ timing — not great, not groundbreaking, but unexpectedly enjoyable.

Prime Video has built an entire ecosystem out of background viewing. The kind of stuff you put on while you’re folding laundry, half-answering emails, or reorganizing your kitchen — and yet, once in a while, the algorithm coughs up something that actually goes down easy. Playdate fits squarely into that territory. It’s not trying to save cinema, and it’s definitely not reinventing the action-comedy wheel, but it delivers what it needs to deliver: two likable leads, a few well-timed gags, and enough chaos to keep the plot moving.

And, honestly, that’s fine. Not every movie needs to swing for a Sundance breakout or chase an A24-style identity crisis. Sometimes a film knows exactly what it is: a hangout-action movie with a big guy, a bigger guy, and a lot of bullets. Playdate is exactly that, and Alan Ritchson is the reason it works even half as well as it does.

Ritchson has entered that rare zone where being typecast doesn’t hurt him. He knows audiences come to see him throw people around, crack dry one-liners, and smirk his way through implausible situations. And he gives you exactly that here. But he also does something more interesting: he leans into comedy with a straight face, which is always harder than it looks. His timing is sharp enough that he doesn’t need to mug or force the jokes — he just lets the absurdity around him breathe.

Kevin James, meanwhile, plays the kind of role he should’ve been playing years ago. He’s not doing the “bumbling mall cop” shtick. Instead he’s a stressed, insecure dad trying desperately to prove something to himself and his stepson. The film doesn’t turn him into a complete buffoon, which helps. James has solid instincts when he’s not trapped in slapstick purgatory, and when he’s allowed to play a character with actual emotional footing — even in something this light — he can be surprisingly grounded.

Brian (Kevin James), Lucas (Benjamin Pajak), CJ (Banks Pierce), and Jeff (Alan Ritchson) in PLAYDATE - **Photo: David Bukach**

Their dynamic works because it’s so visually mismatched it becomes its own joke. Ritchson looks like a linebacker who moonlights as a statue. James looks like a man who insists he used to be good at softball “before the knee thing.” It’s the kind of pairing that shouldn’t function but somehow does. Whoever cast them together is the real MVP of this movie.

The actual plot is barely worth reciting — not because it’s bad, but because it’s operating purely as scaffolding for the two leads. James is a newly unemployed forensic accountant. Ritchson is a suspiciously fit, overly friendly father who invites him and his stepson to hang out. Shockingly, the playdate turns into a frenetic mess involving assassins, conspiracies, and a kid with seemingly supernatural reflexes. You’re not meant to believe it. You’re meant to ride the wave.

There’s one thing this film makes very clear: Prime Video knows its audience. It knows you want something that moves fast, keeps the energy high, and doesn’t demand a dissertation afterward. That’s why the fight scenes are cut to perfectly recognizable throwback pop songs. That’s why every sequence ends with a joke instead of a pause. And that’s why scenes never linger long enough for you to—even accidentally—take any of this seriously.

Yes, the script is dated. You can practically feel the mid-90s fingerprints all over it. But that nostalgia isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes a script like this remembers movies used to be silly without apologizing for it. That’s part of the charm.

Leslie (Isla Fisher) in PLAYDATE. **Photo: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios**

The supporting cast is where things get a little uneven. Isla Fisher is entertaining but underutilized as the leader of a suburban mom-crime ring. Alan Tudyk, talented as ever, ends up playing a villain who doesn’t get the material he deserves. And Stephen Root — one of the great character actors — feels stranded in a movie that isn’t sure how funny it actually wants to be.

Still, none of that breaks the movie. Playdate’s biggest strength is its pace. It moves quickly, never drags, and doesn’t waste time on setups that don’t pay off. Even the dumber jokes land because the film doesn’t linger on them long enough for you to roll your eyes.

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What kept me entertained is that Ritchson commits to the bit. He knows how ridiculous the premise is. He knows how cartoonish some of the action beats are. And yet he never overplays it. He’s the stabilizer — the one person taking the movie seriously enough to keep it from collapsing into full parody. James gets to be the reactor, which works far better than letting him carry the comedy alone.

Does Playdate rise above its genre? No. But does it deliver a entertaining, easy-to-watch, throw-it-on-and-vibe kind of experience? Absolutely. And sometimes that’s exactly what people want — especially on streaming, where attention spans and expectations are wildly different than they are in a theater.

Lucas (Benjamin Pajak), Brian (Kevin James), Jeff (Alan Ritchson), and CJ (Banks Pierce) in PLAYDATE **Photo: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.**

I won’t pretend the film has hidden depth or a message. It doesn’t. And it shouldn’t. It’s a fun watch. It’s breezy. It’s not trying too hard. And, honestly, I prefer this over half the algorithm-tested action projects that take themselves way too seriously.

If anything, the movie highlights why Alan Ritchson is becoming a very reliable presence in mainstream action. Even when he’s typecast, he finds a way to elevate the material. It’s not subtle, but it works. And if Prime Video keeps using him this way, they’re going to keep winning weekends.

Rating: ★★★½

That’s a Wrap

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Playdate

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That’s a Wrap | Playdate |

“A messy, ridiculous, totally enjoyable suburban action romp boosted by Alan Ritchson’s precision and Kevin James’ charm — the kind of movie you throw on for fun and end up watching all the way through.”

— Joanthan P Moustakas

CREDITS

Release Date: Wednesday, November 12 | Streamer: Prime Video

Cast: Alan Ritchson, Kevin James, Sarah Chalke, Isla Fisher

Director: Luke Greenfield

Screenwriter: Neil Goldman

Out Now: Streaming on Prime Video

Rating: PG-13