Alan Ritchson’s motion comedy “Playdate” has lastly hit Prime Video, the place it instantly shot straight to the highest of the most-watched charts around the globe. Any die-hard fan of the actor ought to find time for the film, if solely to see Ritchson lastly main a high-profile launch after establishing himself as a star with “Reacher.”
It took a very long time for Ritchson to really break by means of, having began his profession all the way in which again in 2006 when he performed Arthur Curry/Aquaman on The CW’s “Smallville.” Virtually 20 years later, the person embodied Lee Kid’s hulking hero Jack Reacher in Prime Video’s massively common “Reacher” and eventually ascended to true star standing. Since then, we have seen him present up in a number of massive initiatives, from “Quick X” to Man Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.” However he is but to top-line a real blockbuster, which can quickly occur when he stars alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Christmas comedy with an unbelievable premise. Within the meantime, we’ve “Playdate,” an motion comedy by which Ritchson stars with Kevin James that has simply arrived on Prime Video.
Will this be the challenge to lastly cement Ritchson as a bonafide film star? In all probability not, merely primarily based on the actual fact it is a streaming film with a less-than-stellar Rotten Tomatoes rating. However it’s value protecting in your radar if just for Ritchson himself, who will lastly be capable to flex his comedic chops which he is been showcasing in all method of interview and skit throughout his post-“Reacher” press excursions (like when he sat down for a hilarious back-and-forth with Josh Horowitz). “Playdate” can be full of motion, and as such presents some lighthearted enjoyable forward of the festive season whereas concurrently giving Ritchson yet one more alternative at hand out some cinematic beatdowns.
Critics did not take care of Playdate, however Prime Video audiences turned it into a world hit anyway
“Playdate” stars Alan Ritchson as stay-at-home dad Jeff Eamon, who bonds with Kevin James’ unemployed accountant Brian Jennings throughout a playdate with their sons. Issues take an sudden flip, nonetheless, when a workforce of mercenaries present as much as attempt to take Jeff’s son, forcing him and Brian right into a race to flee their pursuers. As you would possibly anticipate, there’s loads of comedy that comes out of the mismatch between James and Ritchson, with the latter making mild of his fame as a modern-day motion hero.
Sadly, critics did not reply effectively to it and collectively bestowed a 23% rating on the film over on Rotten Tomatoes. On Prime Video, nonetheless, it is a very completely different story. “Playdate” hit the service on November 12, 2025, and in keeping with viewership tracker FlixPatrol, it grew to become an on the spot hit, arriving at primary on the film charts in 41 nations around the globe, together with america.
To make sure, Ritchson has loads of nice roles that are not “Reacher,” together with a career-best efficiency in faith-based drama “Odd Angels.” It feels like followers who’re hoping to see him proceed to pattern upward with high quality initiatives would possibly want to attend a bit longer, however for those who’re a Ritchson completist, “Playdate” is likely to be value trying out.
