Following successful dramatic turns in “Fatherhood” and “True Story,” and dabbling in the heist genre with “Lift”, Kevin Hart is trying his hand at a crime drama toplining Peacock’s “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.” The miniseries is the brainchild of series creator Shaye Ogbonna and is based on the 2020 podcast of the same name. Director Craig Brewer is helming four episodes of the series.
A heist occurred on the night of Muhammad Ali’s (Dexter Darden) historic 1970 comeback fight. This heist changed not only one man’s life but ultimately transformed Atlanta into the “Black Mecca.” Hustler Chicken Man (Kevin Hart) hosts an afterparty to celebrate the fight with a list of the country’s wealthiest guests. The night ends with the most brazen criminal underworld heist in Atlanta’s history. Chicken Man wants to impress kingpin Frank (Samuel L. Jackson) and uses all of his wits.
Naturally, things don’t go as planned, and Chicken Man is suspected of masterminding the crime. With the assistance of his mistress, Vivian Thomas (Taraji P. Henson), Chicken Man is hellbent on clearing his name but must convince his old adversary, J.D. Hudson (Don Cheadle), one of the first Black detectives in the city’s desegregated police force, who is tasked with bringing those responsible to justice.
“Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” kicks things off with Chicken Man in a dire situation before revealing how he got into the problem. Viewers who don’t like Hart’s comedy style can rest assured that he plays it straight, which is the best route since he shares numerous scenes with four Academy Award nominees. Granted, I’m a long-time fan of Hart, but I commend the actor for showing rage and holding his own more than his own. In contrast, Oscar nominees Samuel L. Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard bring their usual melanin magic to their roles.
I commend the casting director for using the next generation of rising black talent, such as those behind the robbery. They include Sinqua Walls, Chloe Bailey, Jalyn Hall, Melvin Gregg, and the always enjoyable Myles Bullock, who needs more roles as an antagonist as he elevates his character above petty thug. I also liked each episode’s title, aligning with a boxing match title.
I generally enjoyed “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist.” However, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Dexter Darden’s under use. While it can be argued that Will Smith gave the definitive portrayal of “The Greatest,” Darden won me with his take on the icon.
Featuring a solid lead performance and solid supporting turns from the rest of the cast, “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” is a knockout miniseries.
Final Grade: B+
The first four episodes of “FIGHT NIGHT: THE MILLION DOLLAR HEIST” are available on Peacock now.
For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I want to revisit 2004 and highlight Romeo’s debut solo album, formerly of Immature. Titled “Food for Thought” and released on June 22nd, this project marked the singer’s change of name to Young Rome in an effort to distance himself from the youthful sound of his group, much like his bandmate Marques Houston had done a year earlier.
In the nineties, Hip-Hop reigned supreme, and every label CEO wanted a share of the lucrative R&B market. One strategy was to keep singers on their roster who could deliver catchy hooks, keeping everything in-house and saving money. Bad Boy had Carl Thomas, Death Row had Danny Boy, and Roc-A-Fella had Rell, our featured artist for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday
Growing up in the eighties, I was surrounded by incredibly talented male R&B singers who could deliver unforgettable love songs. Artists like Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osborne, and Peabo Bryson dominated the airwaves, but Freddie Jackson was another voice that truly deserved recognition.