Game Night is more than adequate, but not as good as you may have heard. Call it Apples to Apples – it’s a reasonably entertaining way to pass the time and your mom would probably like it.
Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams (a winsome couple if there ever was one) star in this action-adventure about a friend group’s game night that takes an unchartered sharp turn into crime, kidnapping, and violence. It’s gotten some critical play as a black comedy, but that’s a bit of a stretch. Though the film is an After Hours-esque nocturnal journey into a dangerous underworld, the laughs come from a more comforting, familiar place, relying on physical humor, broad supporting characters, and exaggerated misunderstandings.
The parts of Game Night that work best actually hew closer to another classic comedy genre: the screwball. Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s wild, over-the-top fights, ambitiously staged chase scenes, and unexpected action beats give the film propulsive momentum in between sitcom banter and high-concept comedy sequences. Combined with a script that has more than a little affinity for otherwise forgettable characters, it’s enough to keep this Game Night from becoming a tired obligation.
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