Alan Ritchson’s New Action Comedy Flops With Critics but Dominates Streaming
The new action comedy Playdate, starring Kevin James and Alan Ritchson, has found a surprising success on streaming despite being widely panned by critics. Released on Amazon Prime Video on November 12, the film quickly became the number one movie in the U.S. and has maintained that top spot.
Directed by Luke Greenfield and written by Neil Goldman, Playdate tells the story of Brian (Kevin James), a recently unemployed accountant who struggles to adjust to life at home with his stepson Lucas (Benjamin Pajak).
To help Lucas make new friends, Brian arranges a weekend playdate with Jeff (Alan Ritchson), a confident stay-at-home dad whose son quickly bonds with Lucas. Things take a wild turn when the fathers and their sons are targeted by mercenaries, blending family comedy with over-the-top action.
Despite its streaming popularity, critics were not impressed. Rotten Tomatoes shows only 18% positive reviews from 22 critics, while Metacritic gave the film a 20 out of 100 score, indicating generally unfavorable reviews.
Some reviewers, however, praised Ritchson’s performance. M.N. Miller of FandomWire wrote, “Ritchson steals every scene with absurd energy and surprising warmth, like a big golden retriever trapped in a comic book hero’s body. Sweet, impetuous, and goofy, he’s incredibly likable.”
The supporting cast includes Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, Benjamin Pajak, Banks Pierce, Hiro Kanagawa, Stephen Root, and Isla Fisher. While the film’s plot and humor received criticism, audiences on Amazon Prime seem to enjoy the chemistry between James and Ritchson and the mix of family-friendly comedy with action sequences.
Playdate proves that even when critics aren’t impressed, a film can still find an audience online. Streaming platforms give movies a chance to reach viewers who might be looking for light entertainment rather than critical acclaim.
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