'Playdate' Review: From Park Playdates to Assassins, Kevin James and Alan Ritchson Lead Amazon Prime's Action-Packed Comedy Madness
Imagine a park on a sunny afternoon, a father tossing a ball to bond with his son, only for the scene to be upstaged by another dad and his son effortlessly performing football feats that resemble missile launches. This is where Playdate on Amazon Prime begins, immediately setting up the film’s central contrast: the everyman Brian (Kevin James) versus the impossibly skilled Jeff (Alan Ritchson).
Kevin James and Alan Ritchson star in Amazon Prime’s Playdate, a chaotic action-comedy with 90s pop hits, absurd gags, and over-the-top family antics.
David Bukach/Prime
Brian, recently unemployed as a forensic accountant, has traded spreadsheets for diaper duty, trying to connect with his stepson Lucas (Benjamin Pajak) over sports, even though Lucas prefers modern dance. The opportunity for bonding seems simple until Jeff enters the picture, suggesting a playdate that quickly escalates from harmless games to a Chuck E. Cheese-style venue under siege by ruthless assassins. Brian finds himself entangled in a whirlwind of comedic chaos, discovering that Jeff’s son CJ (Banks Pierce) has extraordinary abilities and a mysterious past.
Neil Goldman’s script is a time capsule of 90s cinema, packed with gags referencing Reservoir Dogs, Thelma & Louise, and the original Jurassic Park. Director Luke Greenfield, known for The Animal and Let’s Be Cops, revives these nostalgic clichés with his signature comedic timing, though the plot’s labyrinthine twists are often secondary to the spectacle.
The film thrives on its unexpected casting. Kevin James brings his familiar everyman charm, often appearing mortified next to Ritchson’s action-hero physique, while Isla Fisher, Stephen Root, and Alan Tudyk add quirky flavor in supporting roles. The music supervisor deserves credit for assembling a soundtrack that amplifies the absurdity, from DeBarge’s “Rhythm of the Night” during car chases to KC and the Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes” and “Give It Up” during fight sequences.
Playdate isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience of comedic chaos, with outtakes and a playful end-credit music video ensuring that the film’s zany energy lasts until the final frame. For viewers watching on Amazon Prime, it’s a ride where nostalgic pop hits collide with slapstick action and over-the-top family antics, leaving enough room for laughter—or folding laundry—along the way.
