New on Netflix - Kevin Hart Docuseries

Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying that Kevin Hart is one of the most influential people on the planet today.

15:33 22 January 2020

Hart’s meteoric rise to fame has been nothing short of astonishing. Whether he starring in the biggest blockbusters of the year, selling out stadiums on his stand-up world tours, appearing alongside ex-footballer David Beckham in H&M advertisements or becoming the first ever comedian to land an endorsement deal with Nike, he has become a difficult individual to ignore. In his recently dropped documentary series on Netflix, Kevin Hart – Don’t F**k This Up, the comedian invites camera’s into his life and offers a warts and all view of his personal and professional life. The docuseries takes place at an eventful time in Hart’s life, providing a behind the scenes look at the Academy Awards hosting controversy and cheating scandal. The six-part season is far from perfect and at times the opposite of what Hart intended. Ultimately however, the result is still a worthwhile project which if nothing else, was a brave decision. 

Straight to the Hart of the Matter

The series starts with an intimate look into Hart’s humble beginnings. An absent father, an emancipated brother, the Philadelphia born star was raised by his mother in a one bedroom apartment with duct tape on the floor to catch intruding cockroaches. This return to the past in the first episode offers an interesting insight into how Hart became the man he is today. His strict and loving mother having a direct influence on his work ethic, and his former drug addict father having a massive impact on both his comedy and approach to fatherhood. 

One Step Forward and Two Steps Back

In what Hart himself describes as the biggest moment in his career, the cameras catch the moment he finds out and later announces on stage in Australia that he is set to become the 91st host of the Academy Awards. However, controversy is never far away and due to public criticism of several alleged homophobic tweets from 2010 and 2011, Hart eventually steps down as host of the award ceremony. The documentary also address how he cheated on his then pregnant wife, Eniko Parrish, while in Sin City. Perhaps Hart should have known that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and chose instead to spin and win from the comfort of his own home. 

Fortune Favours the Brave

There are moments where it can feel as if Hart is using the Netflix series as a vehicle to justify his actions rather than take full responsibility. There are others when he is putting his reputation on the line by putting his money where his mouth is, proving that everyone needs to learn from their mistakes. For example, if the Oscars and cheating scandals were left out of the show, many would have accused Hart of only showing his good side. But the inclusion of a drunken argument on board a private jet with long time friend and personal trainer could have easily been cut in the edit and it does little to paint Hart in good light. A fan of Hart’s comedy or not, this series is worth a watch, if anything it proves a motto repeated by Hart in the show, perfection does not exist, and in the case of this docuseries, maybe that’s the point.