Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

The competitors came to win, the stakes are through the roof and the liquor is flowing. Whoever said games were just for kids obviously wasn’t doing it right.

It’s the bottom of the ninth, the last inning, the 18th hole, and there can only be one winner.

Competitive couple Max and Annie (Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams) host a weekly game night with a few close friends – all of whom are as eager to be crowned the champion as they are.

When Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler), a loved by all, wealthy and successful businessman comes to town, Max is once again thrown into his brothers shadow. Always ready to one up Max, Brooks hosts game night one week… with a little twist.

Each team has something to prove as they set about to win Brooks’ game night, but you can’t play to win if you don’t know all the rules… or how many players are on the board.

You’ll be glad to know this movie was really funny, not Girls Trip my sides are aching omg please stop! Don’t stop! funny – but I definitely laughed out loud more than I expected too. It’s simple and smart humor using wit and situation to get the best reaction from the audience.

Unconventional is the wrong word but I’m using it anyway to describe the cast – which FYI, I was a big fan of. I think it was interesting that they used two major actors (when I say major I mean you can match their face to their name without asking Google) and then filled the supporting cast with people you look at and think; I definitely know you from somewhere or oh she was on…!

Although it was a little inconsistent I loved what they did with some of the quick cut transition shots. They were very Edgar Wright, Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy-esque and helped to subdue the seriousness by reminding the audience it’s a comedy.

Finally another nod at the visuals and the use of what I believe was a Tilt Shift Lens (I’m not 100% sure this is what they actually used). This is what gave the establishing shots, that kind of ‘miniature play-set’ feel and matched the overall “game” tone of the movie.

It’s difficult to call movies like this “bad” as long as it does it’s fundamental job: and in the case of Game Night it did.

If I had to really pick at it I would say that the supporting characters could have had a little more going for them. One couple had their own clear cut side issues, but with the second couple it was hard to gauge relationship, even though it was spelled out for us.

No one ever stopped and said: How about we call the police?! or You crazy people are on your own, I’m going home to watch Scandal. Everyone was happy to jump feet first into danger without a care for the repercussions even for a fleeting second.

Yes it was a little cheesy, highly implausible and featured way to many grown humans running around in the middle of the night… but it was fun and it was funny and despite all that I just said – there’s no need to digger any deeper.

There was a set up to a potential sequel at the end of the movie, and you know what – if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.

So why the hell not.

Game Night was Jason Bateman just doing what he does best – being an average guy in a messed up situation. He always handles those curve balls with wit and humor the way no one could in real life (personally my normally sarcastic witty self would take a back seat to all the screaming and crying I’d be doing), and you can’t fault him for that.

*Ding Ding Ding* Bring on Round Two.