I’m not a huge comedy fan. The genre has never appealed to me much, and I’m not sure whether that’s because my preferences lean toward darker genres like horror or because I’d much rather watch a juicy drama to keep my interest piqued. So sitting down to watch Prime Video’s new action-comedy “Playdate” wasn’t on my radar this week. Safe to say, I’m speechless — and not in a good way.
“Playdate” is perhaps the most audacious movie I’ve seen in 2025, if not ever. Starring Alan Ritchson from the “Reacher” series and comedian Kevin James, this latest original from Prime Video is certainly an interesting one. At times, I didn’t even know why I was laughing, as sheer disbelief seemed to be the only response I could muster.
Still, anyone who enjoys an unhinged comedy with some seriously goofy action sequences might find “Playdate” entertaining. And it seems viewers are already curious since it’s claimed the No. 1 spot on Prime Video. If you’ve seen this movie pop up on your homepage, here’s everything to know about it (including my very honest thoughts).
What is ‘Playdate’ about?
After accountant Brian (Kevin James) loses his job, he becomes a stay-at-home dad and agrees to a playdate between his stepson Lucas (Benjamin Pajak) and the son of fellow stay-at-home dad Jeff (Alan Ritchson), who seems cool, confident and physically capable.
Brian expects a relaxed afternoon of catch and small talk, but the outing takes a sudden turn: Jeff’s son and Jeff himself are being pursued by a ruthless team of mercenaries and Brian is dragged into a fight for survival despite having no real tactical skills. Forced into survival mode, Brian tries to protect Lucas but it’s clear Jeff has been ready for this all along, and he’s not telling the whole story.
Should you stream ‘Playdate’ on Prime Video?
Recommending “Playdate” to anyone feels wrong, given how low-quality this movie actually is.
Recommending “Playdate” to anyone feels wrong, given how low-quality this movie actually is. Not only is it one of the most nonsensical movies released this year, but its relentless attempts to deliver a comedic line every minute (all while juggling a seriously ridiculous narrative) are just exhausting. And calling a comedy exhausting should be the first red flag.
While I’m not particularly well-versed in the genre, I can spot a bad movie from a mile away, no matter the genre. I had already made up my mind about “Playdate” within the first 30 seconds, after seeing a poorly executed CGI car chase and then cutting to Kevin James’ character interacting with his stepson in one of the most unrealistic conversations I’ve ever seen. From there, the movie falls into the typical “two mismatched guys thrown into crazy danger” buddy formula, where one is completely out of his depth and the other oddly prepared.
“Playdate,” in simple terms, is an absurd movie that offers no real rewards, other than laughing in disbelief as I did. While this kind of humor may appeal to some viewers (and it certainly doesn’t hold back), I just can’t bring myself to find any genuinely redeeming qualities.
Again, I’m probably not the target audience for this kind of movie, but I’ve still watched plenty of comedies that I genuinely enjoy. “Playdate” just leans so hard into its goofy humor that Ritchson and James might as well have been cartoon characters in an animated adventure flick.
It’s not just me though, because judging by the movie’s 17% score on Rotten Tomatoes (and a dismal 53% from audiences), “Playdate” hasn’t exactly gone down well. Jim Vorel from Pasta Magazine said: “The sheer, cumulative ugliness of Playdate, as it careens between sequences of incomprehensible action and dull-as-dirt comedy, works to do nothing so much as corrode the spirit.”
Family and friends who usually come to me asking whether a movie is worth watching know that I try to give a balanced take when a movie is muddled. But in this case, I’m struggling to do that. The only real highlight I can offer is Ritchson, who clearly has a blast in his role. It’s obvious he has potential in the genre, just not for this particular type of over-the-top, chaotic comedy.
If you’re curious about Prime Video’s No. 1 movie, I’d recommend checking out other top‑10 worthy titles like “Hedda” and “Wicked” instead. But if you genuinely enjoy unhinged comedies with completely unbelievable plots, then “Playdate” might be for you, as long as you keep your expectations firmly in check.
"Playdate" is streaming on Prime Video.
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