“The man from Toronto” on Netflix: what does Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson’s movie fail at?

Seen by some as a kind of ‘King Midas’ of contemporary entertainment, (Philadelphia, 1979) usually generates a stir every time he releases some new content, either made by his production company Laugh Out Loud Productions or simply acting as a leading actor in proposals by TV channels or streaming networks. He spent last year when he starred in “” (Netflix), a limited series created by Eric Newman in which he shared roles with none other than the renowned Wesley Snipes.

In this series, Hart plays the Kid, a stand-up comedy genius who, at his peak, finds himself involved in a chain of violent events that threatens his career. The demand towards the interpreter Hart lies on this occasion in that, far from humor, he must give life to someone willing to do anything to save his prestige, his name. This includes, of course, staining their hands with blood or remaining silent in the face of the claws of justice that, on more than one occasion, seem to be close to finding the truth.

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Just a few months later, already in this 2022, Netflix has just released the movie “The Man From Toronto” (“The Man From Toronto”), an action film that has Kevin Hart accompanying Woody Harrelson in the leading role, one of the most talented exponents of Hollywood in recent years.

Directed by Patrick Hughes, this nearly two-hour-long film introduces us to Teddy Jackson (Kevin Hart), a business entrepreneur whose clumsiness prevents him from even taking a firm step. Although he introduces himself as a salesman for a gym, his grand proposition of “non-contact boxing” (a kind of punching only the air) doesn’t appeal to anyone, so he is promptly kicked out of his workplace.

Quite the opposite happens – at least at the beginning of the film – with Jackson’s sentimental life. His beautiful and understanding wife Lori (Jasmine Mathews) seems to be content with minor details, like remembering her birthday and having a romantic dinner for her. Precisely in this purpose is Teddy, who seeks to rent a cabin for such a special date, when suddenly his destiny is disrupted by the first of several absurd details that this tape has.

Jasmine Mathews (Lori), Kaley Cuoco )(Anne), Woody Harrelson (as The Man From Toronto) and Kevin Hart (Teddy) in “The Man From Toronto” / Sabrina Lantos/Netflix

Arriving at the area where the cabin for his wife’s dinner would be, Teddy notices that the letters on the sheet with the address of the place are barely visible, so he confuses the space and ends up in the middle of a cabin. where they have been committing kidnapping and extortion. Without further explanation, the protagonist of the film enters and interacts with what he believes are the tenants of the place. Big surprise: they are assassins who were only waiting for the arrival of the ‘Man From Toronto’ (The Man From Toronto).

This kind of killing machine is played by Woody Harrelson. Slow in his usual movements, but quick in his confrontational maneuvers, The Man from Toronto is mistaken for Teddy Jackson, who soon ends up arrested by the FBI for “supporting a mission that will save many lives.”

The mission consists of continuing to pose as the Man from Toronto until he finds the whereabouts of a former Venezuelan military officer who tried to carry out a coup (there are rather confusing and even clumsy allusions to the recent political relationship between the US and Venezuela). Although this may collide with the minimum limit of plausibility that fiction requires, let’s say that this first task of Teddy is “understandable”. Even he takes it with some humor and asks that the FBI pay him his outstanding debts in exchange for risking her integrity.

Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson in "the man from toronto"
Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson in “The Man from Toronto” / Sabrina Lantos/Netflix

About the character played by Woody Harrelson we could say many things too. It is about someone who transforms as the minutes go by. From killing machine to wannabe chef to ‘man is embarrassed by women’ to insightful author of light jokes. In reality, like many things throughout the film, The Man from Toronto is inconsistent.

But it would be a mistake to assess this hit man independently. His role is absolutely tied to a Teddy Jackson who, unable to throw a single punch, is confined to the corner of quick jokes and exaggerated grimaces. Since the Man from Toronto cannot kill the man his employers mistake him for, the two begin a story of friendship/complicity that, to be honest, seems to be the only thing that saves this film.

This isn’t the first time Kevin Hart has ended up as an on-screen ‘partner’ to a completely different character. He has already done it on more than one occasion with, for example, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, with whom the chemistry achieved has been undeniable and effective when it comes to the box office. Both in the cinematographic experiences with the former WWE wrestler and now with Harrelson, we can find common details: the ‘little one’ of the duo is both talkative and clumsy, although with a humor capable of humanizing whoever gets next to him.

"the man from toronto" is available on Netflix
“The Man from Toronto” is available on Netflix / Sabrina Lantos/Netflix

“The Man from Toronto” is many things: chases, bullets, hits, jumps and falls from many stories high, planes on fire, collector cars, etc. All arranged in an extremely messy way, sometimes certainly without meaning, with the sole purpose of keeping us attentive beyond the humor of Kevin Hart, a virtuoso comedian, capable of filling football stadiums throughout North America with people who just want to listen to him tell funny anecdotes. .

In the final balance, the film is clearly behind the already mentioned series “A true story”. Although there are many blows, shots and maneuvers typical of action movies, what is weak here lies fundamentally in the plot, also adorned with bizarre situations, such as a grandmother who -supported by a cane- seeks to cross a road in the middle of a police chase, villains who never finish dying despite receiving multiple hits and shots, or like listening to Elvis Crespo’s “Suavemente” when a handsome FBI agent makes his appearance on screen. Just three examples of the weakness of a film that will most likely go down in history as ‘one more’ in the Netflix catalog.

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The Man From Toronto/ NETFLIX

Synopsis: A case of mistaken identity forces a bumbling entrepreneur to team up with an infamous killer, known as “the Man from Toronto,” in order to stay alive.

Original title: “The Man From Toronto”

Duration: 112 minutes.

Classification: 13 years

Gender: Action

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“The man from Toronto” on Netflix: what does Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson’s movie fail at?