Rapper-turned-actor Ice Cube is headed back to the big screen early next year in the highly anticipated buddy-cop comedy Ride Along.
According to the film’s director, Tim Story, Ride Along is a comedic take on the gritty crime drama Training Day.
During a visit on the set of Ride Along in Atlanta last December, Ice Cube opened up about his new role, and talked about his on-screen chemistry with Kevin Hart.
“Working with somebody like Kevin Hart is rejuvenating…” Ice Cube said. “I think Kevin’s brand of comedy is broader. He reminds me of a young Eddie Murphy….when Eddie Murphy was sharp as a tack, witty and on time. And he can pull it all off.. he can pull off the physical, he can pull off the intellectual, he can pull off the subtle. It’s just cool to work with somebody so good.”
Throughout his film career spanning more than 20 years, Ice Cube has collaborated with some of Hollywood’s funniest comedians, including Mike Epps, Katt Williams, John Witherspoon and Chris Tucker.
The 44-year-old actor says that the key to his success in the buddy-comedy film genre has been his ability “to make sure the comedy is funny, and not just comedy.”
“We make sure we have a great script so that we don’t force feed anything,” he says. “I think it helps people relax and laugh at it.”
“I allow these guys to get off. I don’t get in their way, cut their lines, or leave their material on the cutting room floor like a lot of lead actors do. I’m not intimidated on getting the scene stolen from me… it’s really about what the movie is doing for the audience.”
Ice Cube also reacted to Story comparing the film to Training Day.
“Our movie is ten times funnier than Training Day,” Ice Cube said. “Training Day is it’s own thing, we took hard from that, and the funny we kind of created from these situations. You borrow what’s good. There’s a lot of great comedy.”
Ride Along hits theaters nationwide January 17, 2014.
When asked if there will be a sequel to Ride Along Ice Cube replied, “Hell yeah. It better be. If it’s not then we didn’t do a good job.”
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