Central Intelligence film mapping and analysis

Film Mapping for Central Intelligence

0:01 Warner Bros. Pictures    A TimeWarner Company
0:03 New Line Cinema      A TimeWarner Company
0:04 UNIVERSAL     A Comcast Company
0:28    20 YEARS LATER
0:48    From The Director Of WE'RE THE MILLERS
1:15     From NEW LINE CINEMA
1:29     THIS SUMMER
1:45     SAVING THE WORLD
1:47     Takes A LITTLE HART
1:50     AND
1:52     A BIG
1:54     JOHNSON
2:17     CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
2:26     JUNE 17th              #centralintelligence
2:29     Follow Us On (media logos here)    #centralintelligence

The Central Intelligence trailer shows another action/comedy film featuring Kevin Hart: now known as a bankable star for this genre. He has consistently released (at least) one high-budget action/comedy film within a standard year, often playing the protagonist.

This film trailer informs the viewer that Central Intelligence is indeed another action film when Hart's co-star Dwayne Johnson reveals his character to be a CIA operative. This dialogue is then followed by their two characters being surrounded by armed assaliants and both protagonists jumping out of a window while escaping gunfire.

The action scenes are also littered with punchlines and humourous dialogue to keep this film a comedy as well as an action film. Note also that the trailer pauses the (non-diagetic, asynchronous) background music at the time of a punchline delivery by either character in order to make the humourous tone more obvious and bring attention to the dialogue without distraction. This technique is often seen in comedy trailers and its presence can be used to help quickly identify a comedy production.

Another convention of an action film that is present here is the quick cuts and short takes within the action shots. Each shot of gunfire, car chases or other stunts only remains on-screen for around half a second or one second at a maximum. Note also that shots containing dialogue and punchlines appear to remain on-screen for approximately 3 seconds which when compared to the quick action shots, gives off the impression of a long take. The overall effect makes the action scenes seem quick flowing and exciting and the dialogue seem funnier in combination with the background music pause.

The (non-diegetic, asynchrounous) background music itself is relatively upbeat with a moderate tempo, containing a single (programmed) drum beat for some action shot transitions and dramatic footage. This adds an extra level of excitement to the shots. The trailer also opens with singing, that transitions into being synchronous as a young Robbie Weredick (Dwayne Johnson) is seen singing and dancing in the shower. This adds to the humourous tone of the Central Intelligence trailer; now well established with many features to ensure its presence.

However, what is most likely to make this film trailer a large success is Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart's co-starring as protagonists. Dwayne Johnson now has a good reputation within the production of action films and Kevin Hart is becoming increasingly popular for not only his comedy in movies, but his stand-up comedy and his social media responses to fans and other celebrities. One action film star and one comedian within an action/comedy production is very likely to perform well at box office and makes both actors bankable. Both viewers and producers know this, and the tagline "a little Hart and a big Johnson" has been put in place for this reason. It is also why these two characters are the only ones with meaningful dialogue within the highly critical two minutes thirty of the trailer.