September 19th 2024.
Despite receiving harsh criticism from experts, Netflix's highly-anticipated blockbuster released in January was a major hit, becoming the second most-watched film on the streaming platform in 2024 so far. The film, titled "Lift," boasted a star-studded cast including Kevin Hart, James Bond, Billy Magnussen, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Vincent D'Onofrio.
In the film, Kevin Hart took on the role of master thief Cyrus Whitaker, a character determined to pull off an impossible heist of gold bars from a plane flying at 40,000 feet. While the audience seemed to enjoy the film, with an audience rating of 33%, critics weren't as impressed, giving it a meager score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.
However, despite the negative reviews, fans were undeterred and flocked to watch "Lift" on Netflix, racking up a whopping 129,400,000 views and 238,800,000 hours watched between January and June. This impressive feat landed "Lift" in the runner-up spot on the six-month chart, beating out other popular titles like "Society of the Snow," "Under Paris," "Super Mario Brothers Movie," and "Mother of the Bride."
The only film that surpassed "Lift" in views was "Damsel," starring Millie Bobby Brown, which claimed the top spot with a staggering 143,800,000 views and 263,700,000 hours watched. While "Lift" may have been a hit among viewers, it received scathing reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with many calling it "laughably bad."
Some critics even went as far as to say it was one of the worst films they had ever seen. A viewer named Hussain wrote, "One of the worst films I've ever seen." Another viewer named Charlie agreed, saying it was "laughably bad" with a bad storyline, cringe-worthy moments, and a predictable plot.
Despite the criticism, Kevin Hart's performance in "Lift" was a refreshing change of pace for the actor, who is known for his comedic roles in films like "Central Intelligence," "Ride Along," and "Me Time." In "Lift," he played a villain for the first time, giving tough competition to action stars like Tom Cruise, Jason Statham, and Mark Wahlberg.
In an interview before the film's release, Kevin talked about his role as Cyrus and how he enjoyed playing a character who was not necessarily a villain but a charming con artist. He explained, "His ability to make you feel like you're at ease and like you're a part of the good is all based on what he does well. That, for me, is a lot of fun to play because it's a place that I can play in that's real, grounded, and isn't far-fetched to see me in."
Kevin also mentioned that he enjoyed the subtle romance in the film, which was a refreshing change from the usual exaggerated love stories in action films. He added, "Then I like the romance side of it. It wasn't overstated, it was understated, and then you find yourself invested."
"Lift" is currently available for streaming on Netflix, and despite the mixed reviews, it seems like fans can't get enough of Kevin Hart's portrayal of the charming yet deceptive Cyrus Whitaker. If you're in the mood for some action and thrills, be sure to check out this blockbuster hit.
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