Game Night (2018)

Review

100min

Genre:       Action, Comedy, Crime

Director:    John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein

Cast:         Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Jesse Plemons…and more

Writer:      Mark Perez

-Synopsis-

When a group of middle-class suburbanite ‘game night’ devotees mistake a violent kidnapping for a bout of murder-mystery role-playing, a night of hilarious madness ensues in this madcap modern comedy from the makers of ‘Horrible Bosses’ and ‘Vacation’.

After taking aim at workplace gripes and family vacations with often hilarious consequences, writer/directors  Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley apply their talents for creating escalating mayhem out of mundane situations and everymen characters to harmless pastime pursuits and friendly competition—teaming up with writer Mark Perez for a rare contemporary irreverent comedy with as much character as it has laughs, and which doesn’t trip over itself trying to cross as many lines of good taste as possible.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as ‘Max’ and ‘Annie’, an ultra-competitive suburban couple who revel in board and trivia games at regular game nights with their friends ‘Ryan’ (Billy Magnussen), ‘Kevin’ (Lamorne Morris) and ‘Michelle’ (Kylie Bunbury). When Max’s older, more successful, care-free brother ‘Brooks’ (Kyle Chandler) shows up promising a game night to remember, things take an unexpected turn into underworld criminality, sending the group on a mad scramble across the city with lives on the line—and crossing paths with their slightly creepy and unsettling cop neighbour ‘Gary’ (Jesse Plemons).

There’s no more subjective or divisive cinematic theme or genre than comedy. What makes you consistently laugh is and has always been a very personal matter, dependent on you sense of humour and even your mood on a given day. But the irreverent outrage comedy has been around since at least the days of National Lampoon and ‘Animal House’, pushing the boundaries of good taste and what is acceptable at the time. Yet the modern shock comedy has virtually destroyed those boundaries, and in recent years provided films like ‘Dirty Grandpa’ and ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’ which try to up the ante while providing inane mindless entertainment, devoid of creativity and at best occasionally funny.

Enter Goldstein and Francis Daley to redress the balance, injecting some much-needed charm and taste while maintaining the necessary level of absurdity and of course endless laughs, even providing twists and surprises on the way to becoming one of the best comedies of its ilk in recent years—and making use of elaborate cityscape miniatures and models in wide shots and overheads . . . for no apparent reason.

Jason Bateman’s always endearing charms and observational comedy skills are on full display, and Rachel McAdams adds to her early career comedy chops, while Billy Magnussen once again proves a scene-stealer as the resident bimbo of the piece. But it’s accomplished dramatic actor Jesse Plemons who leaves the most lasting impression, reminding us of his comedy roots but playing it unsettlingly straight as the intense and fastidious neighbour policeman.

Yet it’s the writing and the story which are the true stars of the show here, built on the classic comedy pillar of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and introducing plenty of comedic mayhem but never going over the top, while staying clear of cheap lewdness and excessive crudeness. There are of course truckloads of clever quips and plenty of observational comedy, as well as loads of clever movie references—and writer Mark Perez even smuggles in a little parable about realising what’s important in life and leaving behind adolescent yearnings and fantasies.

Sure ‘Game Night’ is no comedy masterpiece and was never going to be as satisfying or impactful as say, well balanced and carefully considered quirky indie comedy at its best. But for what it is—a hilarious and irreverent yet tasteful and relatable piece of light escapism—this is easily one of the better modern comedies of its like in recent years, teaching everyone (including crazy TV stars and presidents) that ‘winning’ isn’t everything.

The Bottom Line…

A rare balanced modern irreverent madcap comedy with taste and actual charm, and of course endless laughs too, ‘Game Night’ may not be a comedic masterpiece but it bucks the trend of recent inane shock comedies that just aren’t consistently funny, while entertaining you for 100 minutes of glorious escapist absurdity.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

The House (2017)

Looking for a way to pay for their daughter’s college tuition after her scholarship is revoked, a well-meaning but inept couple start an illegal underground casino in quiet American suburbia with a little help from their friends in this irreverent comedy from writer-turned-director Andrew Jay Cohen.

Directed by Andrew Jay Cohen and starring Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler and Jason Mantzoukas among others.

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