I was very much looking forward to Game Night because it was very much looking like my kinda movie: a clever and dark comedy with a unique premise and a great cast. And oh yes did it deliver.
Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman are a couple whose relationship is based on competition, both with each other and with other people, which has led them to host a weekly game night with some friends. When Bateman’s brother (Kyle Chandler) is in town, he offers to step things up a notch by hosting a murder mystery game night. But it all goes south when some bad guys that are really after him show up at the time the game’s scheduled. That leaves this crew of game enthusits believing that the crime they’ve just witnessed is all part of an ellaborate role play.
While we’ve seen some variations of this premise before, it felt wholly unique, and I found it hysterically funny. Just a really smart screenplay with some smart dialog and great twists and turns along the way. It’s really admirable how many moving pieces came together in the writing because it was certainly a ride.
But that cast, oh my that cast. First off, so excited to see Regina George, I mean Rachel McAdams doing comedy again. It had been way too long. It was also the first time for me to see comedy from Kyle Chandler and Jesse Plemmons. I’d call Plemmons the MVP of the film, because he stole every scene he was in with this completely deadpan and awkwardly oblivious delivery. Who knew that weird sadistic kid from Breaking Bad had a future in comedy?
I’m hearing talk of sequels. I’m on board. No that was not meant to be a board game pun.
Game Night – \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/