Getting old is a gift... sometimes we forget that
DWAYNE JOHNSON and Kevin Hart are squabbling – but what else is new? Squabbling has long been a cornerstone of the high-profile friendship between the former wrestler and the stand-up comedian, with the pair constantly exchanging verbal jabs in person and trading affectionate swipes on social media.
Today is no exception as they sit side by side in a London hotel and debate who looks older.
“You’re looking at two guys who just embraced our youth, because we are so young,” Dwayne, 47, jokes as he towers over 40-year old Kevin.
At 5ft 4in, Kevin appears to be about a third of the size of hulking superstar Dwayne, but the comedy juggernaut simply can’t let this slide.
“I don’t think you should say ‘youth’,” he tells Dwayne sternly. “Because when people look at you, they know you’re not young. I can embrace my youth, but for you, you’re on the other side.”
And we are off to the races as the pair trade friendly insults.
“They don’t know my actual age, nobody knows,” jokes Kevin. “I’ve been pulling the old birth certificate swap for some years now.”
“You’ve been running that gimmick for a long time, you’ve been in your 30s for a
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart reunite on screen for Jumanji: The Next Level. The pair sit down with
to discuss friendship, ageing and why their fans will always come first long time,” Dwayne replies. doesn’t stop, it’s going to
While this kind of jovial continue to go forward, so it’s jostling is the trademark up to you to embrace the feature of their relationship, obstacles that may be their friendship did take on a presented to you and just try more serious tone earlier this to become better on a day to year when Kevin was involved day basis. in a serious car accident that “Getting older is something left him badly injured. that should be celebrated.”
He was a passenger in a The subject of getting older vintage muscle car when the is something that is driver lost control, sped unexpectedly down an addressed in the embankment and duo’s new film slammed into a tree Jumanji: The Next near Malibu in Level, a sequel to September. the 2017 box
He suffered major office hit Jumanji: back injuries and Welcome To The had to have intensive Jungle, which was physical therapy. itself a sequel of the
“We were all worried about 1995 film starring Robin Kevin,” Dwayne says earnestly, Williams. “but, the truth is, the moment While the first film saw the I heard that he had breath left duo play the avatars of in his body I knew he was teenagers who end up in the resilient and a fighter and that game – along with Jack Black he was going to come back.” and Karen Gillen – this time
And come back indeed he they embody people later in did, leaving Kevin thankful life, namely characters simply to be alive. portrayed by Danny DeVito
“You have got to fall in love and Danny Glover. with life in general,” he says. On this outing, their
“We all understand that life characters marvel at their is a constant progression, it limber hips and strength.
Kevin Hart as Franklin Finbar, Dwayne Johnson as Dr Smolder Bravestone, Karen Gillan as Ruby Roundhouse and Jack
Black as Professor Sheldon Oberon in Jumanji: The Next Level
“Getting old is a gift,” Dwayne says philosophically.
“Sometimes we forget that. But time just goes on and it’s not going to stop so I think you can either embrace it or not embrace it.”
And embrace it they do. The pair’s mutual sense of fun has made them a huge hit with a global audience. They have appeared in a string of films together, including the Central Intelligence and Jumanji movies, while Kevin even makes an uncredited appearance in Dwayne’s Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw.
For all their physical differences, it is their commitment to making films that are enjoyed by audiences, rather than hustling for
Oscars, that they have in common.
“That is what we do it for,” Kevin says. “You’re looking at two entertainers that really understands the importance and value in having a fan.
“With both of our backgrounds, wrestling for DJ (as he calls Dwayne) and stand-up comedy for me, we have dealt with live entertainment for so long and we have always had that personal connection to our fanbase.
“Now we are finding ways to maintain that personal connection through the box office side of entertainment.
“But if we ever lose sight of that, I think we lose sight of where we have come from and what gives us the opportunity to do what we do at the highest level.”
Dwayne enthusiastically nods, saying: “We do truly feel that audiences come first.
“When you look at the stuff that we do, whether it’s in TV or film, if you strip it all away, it always comes down to the audience, it comes down to the fans, the consumers, the customers, and we do want to make sure that we are creating a great experience for them.
“With Kevin and I, you won’t find content or films where people go, ‘Aah, you did that for you, that one was for you. The other five were for us, but that one was for you.’
“No, that is our therapy time, we will go see our therapist, we will work on our s*** on our own, that is not for the audience.
“So anything that we do is always audience first.”
For all their squabbling, both men feel like they have grown because of the other.
“You have got to get better, you can’t get worse,” Kevin says. “Everything gets better within time and I think I’m definitely learning a lot and learning how to be more polished and more professional.
“My business acumen is growing and of course that is from the big guy, the good leader he is.”
They look at each other.
“We learn from each other,” Dwayne adds, “We truly do, we learn from each other.”
And with that, the squabbling begins again.