Alan Ritchson's Playdate Bombs With Critics Despite Streaming Success

Alan Ritchson's Playdate on Prime Video has bombed with critics, but it's still climbing the streaming charts. It felt like Alan Ritchson was never going to get out of the shadow of Thad Castle on Blue Mountain State, but his turn as Jack Reacher in the Prime Video series has exposed the once-niche actor to more people than ever.

It turns out, everyone loves Ritchson as much as the fervent Blue Mountain State supporters assumed people would. Since 2022, he's starred in Reacher as the hulking drifter, and his film offerings have begun to reflect his wider acting range. Still, his increased exposure has not insulated him from a stinker or two like Playdate​​​​.

What Is Playdate About?

Playdate is a 2025 buddy action comedy starring Alan Ritchson as Jeff Eamon, a charismatic, hyper-athletic stay-at-home dad, and Kevin James as Brian Jennings, a recently laid-off forensic accountant trying to improve his son's confidence as well as his own. Brian plans a playdate with Jeff and his son, hoping their manliness rubs off on the Jennings.

The source of the Eamons' athletic abilities is revealed when a team of mercenaries crashes the playdate, intending to capture Jeff, a former Delta Force soldier. Now, the Eamons and the Jennings are on the run from a shadowy organization intent on keeping a dangerous secret covered up.

Why The Reviews For Playdate Were So Terrible

Playdate did not exactly receive a warm reception. Currently, Playdate has a 23% on Rotten Tomatoes. That's a pretty rough score. It's not an abomination, but it's in the thick stew of straight-to-streaming star vehicles that feel compulsory rather than crafted from any real artistic inspiration.

The film has been roundly criticized for clichés that begin from the very beginning of the movie and don't stop until the credits roll. What's worse, according to many reviewers, Playdate can't even seem to make use of these cliches, leading to something boring, unfunny, and impressively unremarkable.

Alan Ritchson Has Been In Much Better Roles

If you've only seen Alan Ritchson in Reacher and Blue Mountain State, you might be particularly disappointed after seeing Playdate. Don't worry, Ritchson has been in many better movies over the years that will reaffirm your interest in the actor. In the last three years, Ritchson has had some excellent roles.

He appeared in Fast X as Agent Aimes, the new leader of Mr. Nobody's (Kurt Russell) agency. Ritchson then went on to co-star in Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare as Anders Lassen. Motor City, still awaiting release in the U.S., stars Ritchson as John Miller. Don't use Playdate as your frame of reference for Ritchson's work.