Game Night: When Fun Turns Deadly
A hilarious comedic thriller about a friendly game night that spirals into a dangerous adventure.
Max and Annie (Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams) met at a trivia night and bonded over their shared love of intellectual games. They soon married and now host weekly game nights with their friends. One night, Max’s successful and boastful brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), proposes an exciting murder mystery game. Actors will kidnap one of them, playing the role of villains, and the other players must solve a series of puzzles to find the “hostage.” The players enthusiastically agree, unfazed when thugs break into Brooks’ mansion and, after a lengthy brawl, drag him away. But as Max, Annie, and the others delve deeper into the investigation, they begin to suspect that Brooks has actually been kidnapped and is in real danger.
Interestingly, while the film’s star and producer, Jason Bateman, had two assistants, the directors shared only one.
From Bones to Blockbusters: The Rise of John Francis Daley
When the writers and producers of the detective series “Bones” brutally and irrevocably wrote out psychologist Lance Sweets from the show in 2014, we were disappointed to no longer see the charming actor John Francis Daley alongside David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. But television’s loss became cinema’s gain. Daley had already proven himself a talented comedy writer with “Horrible Bosses,” and after leaving “Bones,” he debuted as a director with the hit remake of “Vacation.” As a writer, he also made the comic book blockbuster “Spider-Man: Homecoming” one of Marvel Studios’ funniest films.
Make sure to watch until the end of the credits! Like Marvel blockbusters, “Game Night” has a surprising final scene.
A Comedic Masterpiece?
All of this, however, was merely a warm-up for Daley and his longtime collaborator Jonathan Goldstein before shooting a true comedic masterpiece. We don’t know what “Game Night’s” box office numbers will be or whether Warner Bros. will recoup its investment. But we are confident that any fan of adult comedies who ignores this film will miss out on over an hour of healthy laughter. Yes, over an hour, not just five or ten minutes of successful jokes, which is what most modern competent comedies offer. “Game Night” is funny almost throughout, and the film is full of moments that will have you clutching your sides with laughter. Movie buffs will particularly enjoy the film, as it contains many jokes about Hollywood themes. However, “Game Night” has funny scenes for every taste.
Blending Genres for Maximum Entertainment
To make the film not only funny but also engaging, the creators of “Game Night” mixed three genres and created a farcical thriller with a touch of melodrama. The film’s action revolves around attempts to save Brooks, and the events unfold rapidly, including unexpected plot twists, chases, shootouts, and brawls. In addition, the joint adventure allows Max, Annie, and their friends to clarify their family relationships and views on life. But don’t worry that the film will promise you fun and then ruin your mood with heavy “kitchen sink” dramas. Max and Annie love each other very much (as does another married couple in their group), and they act as a well-oiled machine – they are heroic together and get into trouble together when they try to act like “cool guys.” Their conflict is not about whether they will break up, but about whether they can become even happier. So, the characters’ disagreements add energy to the film and make the drama richer, but they don’t depress the audience. This is not “Loveless,” but its complete emotional opposite – a film about love, friendship, and loyalty.
Imperfections and Triumphs
Is “Game Night” a perfect film? Perhaps not. First, “Game Night” is more funny than engaging and dramatic – the directors failed to find the ideal genre balance. Second, one of the three romantic couples in the film is not as convincing as the other two. Third, as already noted, this is a film for adults. You can’t bring the whole family to “Game Night” because the film has explicit jokes and bloody scenes. However, all of this is minor compared to the film’s main achievement – it’s very funny.