699 reviews
While unlikely to ever be regarded as a classic side-splittingly hilarious comedy kingpin, Game Night is a refreshing and original mainstream experience, which is far and away the best high-profile Hollywood comedy to come our way in sometime.
Directed by Horrible Bosses writing duo and Vacation director's John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, Game Night takes the one-time nerd only board game night to the big-time as we find ourselves a part of a games night with a difference as Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdam's game loving couple Max and Annie and their collection of friends find themselves trying to rescue Max's successful brother Brooks (played brilliantly against type by Kyle Chandler) from a real-life hostage situation.
It's a high concept central idea and one that works thanks to Daley and Goldstein's assured and often imaginatively constructed direction and the ability for the film to both not take itself too seriously or not playing to the lowest common denominators.
It feels like many moons since a comedy of this ilk wasn't filled with unnecessary profanities, sex jokes and loud-mouthed side characters but thankfully Game Night largely avoids these comedic pitfalls and just focuses itself on telling a genuinely good story with a large collection of jokes that work on their own merits.
It's great to see Daley and Goldstein advance from their Horrible Bosses writing breakthrough and the relative misfire of their updating of the Vacation series as Game Night is without question the most assuredly filmed Hollywood comedy in sometime.
David Fincher himself would be proud as the duo give the film a visual flair and pizazz not often found in such genre films, from the way in which they shoot some establishing shots like a real-life board game or an eye-popping keeping's off sequence in a glamorous house, Game Night is filled with visual gems that when combined with Drive and Neon Demon composer Cliff Martinez's score, create a memorable mood and setting.
Coinciding with Daley and Goldstein's wins is the work of the films cast. Jason Bateman is as Jason Batemany as you'd expect but surrounded by the likes of Rachel McAdams (who looks like she's never had this much fun) and a downright hilarious Jesse Plemon's as Max and Annie's super awkward and potentially serial-killer like neighbour Gary, the whole cast elevate each other's work to a level that makes you hope this isn't the last game night we will be spending with this colourful bunch.
Final Say -
Like any good games night, Daley and Goldstein's film provides a lot of fun, laughs and genuinely memorable times. Game Night is Hollywood comedy filmmaking done right and by avoiding the problems that have faced its recent cohorts (overlong running times, unnecessary vulgarity, annoying characters); Game Night becomes a highly recommendable night out at the movies.
4 Fabergé egg's out of 5
Directed by Horrible Bosses writing duo and Vacation director's John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, Game Night takes the one-time nerd only board game night to the big-time as we find ourselves a part of a games night with a difference as Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdam's game loving couple Max and Annie and their collection of friends find themselves trying to rescue Max's successful brother Brooks (played brilliantly against type by Kyle Chandler) from a real-life hostage situation.
It's a high concept central idea and one that works thanks to Daley and Goldstein's assured and often imaginatively constructed direction and the ability for the film to both not take itself too seriously or not playing to the lowest common denominators.
It feels like many moons since a comedy of this ilk wasn't filled with unnecessary profanities, sex jokes and loud-mouthed side characters but thankfully Game Night largely avoids these comedic pitfalls and just focuses itself on telling a genuinely good story with a large collection of jokes that work on their own merits.
It's great to see Daley and Goldstein advance from their Horrible Bosses writing breakthrough and the relative misfire of their updating of the Vacation series as Game Night is without question the most assuredly filmed Hollywood comedy in sometime.
David Fincher himself would be proud as the duo give the film a visual flair and pizazz not often found in such genre films, from the way in which they shoot some establishing shots like a real-life board game or an eye-popping keeping's off sequence in a glamorous house, Game Night is filled with visual gems that when combined with Drive and Neon Demon composer Cliff Martinez's score, create a memorable mood and setting.
Coinciding with Daley and Goldstein's wins is the work of the films cast. Jason Bateman is as Jason Batemany as you'd expect but surrounded by the likes of Rachel McAdams (who looks like she's never had this much fun) and a downright hilarious Jesse Plemon's as Max and Annie's super awkward and potentially serial-killer like neighbour Gary, the whole cast elevate each other's work to a level that makes you hope this isn't the last game night we will be spending with this colourful bunch.
Final Say -
Like any good games night, Daley and Goldstein's film provides a lot of fun, laughs and genuinely memorable times. Game Night is Hollywood comedy filmmaking done right and by avoiding the problems that have faced its recent cohorts (overlong running times, unnecessary vulgarity, annoying characters); Game Night becomes a highly recommendable night out at the movies.
4 Fabergé egg's out of 5
- eddie_baggins
- Feb 21, 2018
- Permalink
This is not a movie I went in expecting to love, in all honesty it was just the next film showing. Imagine my surprise when I was treated to one of the best comedies I have see in quite a while. Bateman and McAdams are as likeable and charismatic as you would expect and the rest of the cast are pretty great too. It helps that this cast were given well written, interesting characters to work with. This film also boasts brilliant and creative camera work as well as very imaginative transitions that help to draw the viewer into the story and show that a lot of thought and effort was put into the making of this film. There are a small handful of jokes that don't land and a small number of logical errors but for the most part it is a very funny and entertaining thrill-ride, also stay during the beginning of the credits as they are very well done. Keep away from trailers for this film as they do give some things away that are better not to know going in, once this hits Netflix definitely check it out.
- Nathan_Needs_A_Username
- Apr 5, 2019
- Permalink
This movie was a great comedy that also kept me guessing to the end. A lot of comedies turn me off lately because they rely too much on adolescent humor that's gross or mainly sexual jokes. This movie got laughs the old fashioned way and felt like a smart Cary Grant / Katherine Hepburn comedy. It also made me think of the types of British comedies you see Simon Pegg in.
There are a lot of reviewers who panned this quite harshly and when I read those reviews I feel like they were watching a different movie. I'd be interested to know how old these reviewers were - perhaps older people will enjoy this more than people in their 20s? (I'm in my mid-40s). Some complained about the acting - I think everyone was spot on. Some complained the plot was predictable - I actually found myself surprised at several turns the plot took and found it quite funny when the audience was clued into new information that the characters hadn't figured out yet.
Rachel mcAdams had great chemistry with Jason Bateman and the supporting cast were each terrific. The characters were well drawn and funny, and the side plots were all engaging and humorous. I was impressed with the writing and acting, and the pace of the movie never made me look at my watch to see how long was left. I definitely recommend it.
There are a lot of reviewers who panned this quite harshly and when I read those reviews I feel like they were watching a different movie. I'd be interested to know how old these reviewers were - perhaps older people will enjoy this more than people in their 20s? (I'm in my mid-40s). Some complained about the acting - I think everyone was spot on. Some complained the plot was predictable - I actually found myself surprised at several turns the plot took and found it quite funny when the audience was clued into new information that the characters hadn't figured out yet.
Rachel mcAdams had great chemistry with Jason Bateman and the supporting cast were each terrific. The characters were well drawn and funny, and the side plots were all engaging and humorous. I was impressed with the writing and acting, and the pace of the movie never made me look at my watch to see how long was left. I definitely recommend it.
7/10
GAME NIGHT may not be a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely a genuine blast and an entertaining ride from beginning to the very end (seriously, stay for the post-credits scene!) The rare major studio comedy that actually feels like a film, rather than a soulless exercise in assembly-line filmmaking, thanks to such creative choices like Cliff Martinez's thumping score and Barry Peterson's cinematography, which not only introduces new locations as if zooming in on a board game piece, but also sports a surprisingly well-executed long take. Lamorne Morris and Billy Magnussen are some of the obvious standouts among the film's enjoyable cast of characters, but Jesse Plemons is the true MVP, stealing every single one of his scenes with ease. The film isn't without its problems, with the convoluted third act jumping the shark almost to the point of parody, and not all of the jokes land (although most do thanks to the cast's great comedic timing), but nonetheless GAME NIGHT makes for a perfectly fun time at the movies.
GAME NIGHT may not be a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it's definitely a genuine blast and an entertaining ride from beginning to the very end (seriously, stay for the post-credits scene!) The rare major studio comedy that actually feels like a film, rather than a soulless exercise in assembly-line filmmaking, thanks to such creative choices like Cliff Martinez's thumping score and Barry Peterson's cinematography, which not only introduces new locations as if zooming in on a board game piece, but also sports a surprisingly well-executed long take. Lamorne Morris and Billy Magnussen are some of the obvious standouts among the film's enjoyable cast of characters, but Jesse Plemons is the true MVP, stealing every single one of his scenes with ease. The film isn't without its problems, with the convoluted third act jumping the shark almost to the point of parody, and not all of the jokes land (although most do thanks to the cast's great comedic timing), but nonetheless GAME NIGHT makes for a perfectly fun time at the movies.
- roblesar99
- Feb 18, 2018
- Permalink
I watched "Game Night" on an 8-hour flight back from Denmark immediately after watching another comedy, "Blockers." While "Blockers" had some funny moments, compared to "Game Night" it came across as a random assortment of gags, and the importance of a tight script in a comedy was made clear in the comparison.
"Game Night" is very funny, mostly because of the winning combination of Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, but this is the rare comedy that gives all of its actors moments to shine. Good, funny comedies are extremely hard to come by, so if you've been searching in vain for one, give this one a try.
Grade: A-
"Game Night" is very funny, mostly because of the winning combination of Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, but this is the rare comedy that gives all of its actors moments to shine. Good, funny comedies are extremely hard to come by, so if you've been searching in vain for one, give this one a try.
Grade: A-
- evanston_dad
- Jul 31, 2018
- Permalink
"Where'd you find her? TED Talk?"
If you're game for a hilarious night at the movies, then see the black comedy Game Night. This romantic thriller is a mix of screwball comedy, Marx Brothers slapstick, and witty repartee you'll vow to go back for (about the handsomer brother: "He's like the Mark Wahlberg to Max's Donnie!") so you can catch at least half of the brilliant dialogue from the pen of writer Mark Perez.
Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) is a childless married couple who relax with friends playing highly competitive games like Scrabble and Charades. This night, however, with the return of his charming, successful brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), the game becomes fraught with sibling rivalry and violence that somehow never eclipses the humor. For the audience, determining what is just a game and what is real is the enjoyable endgame, and not easily solved.
The high-flying chases and quips remind me of Grant and Russell in their screwball days, throwing intellectual barbs while their lives are at stake (about a ditzy blonde guest: "Where'd you find her? TED Talk?"). Although Bateman has cornered the market on the clueless but still sharp middle class professional with the classic slow burn, McAdams is a discovery as a robust bright partner only a little clueless but plenty savvy. Her takeoff on Amanda Plummer with the diner hostages in Pulp Fiction is priceless.
Besides McAdams' surprise comedic chops, Jesse Plemons as the off- center, next-door cop Gary sheds his Matt Damon lookalike calling card and crafts a memorable role to prove his talent as a comic character. However, he's just another achiever in an ensemble overloaded with charm. Now and then a fine film comes in this dead-zone time of year: Game Night is that one, a promise of good films to come long after Oscar has gone to hibernation.
If you're game for a hilarious night at the movies, then see the black comedy Game Night. This romantic thriller is a mix of screwball comedy, Marx Brothers slapstick, and witty repartee you'll vow to go back for (about the handsomer brother: "He's like the Mark Wahlberg to Max's Donnie!") so you can catch at least half of the brilliant dialogue from the pen of writer Mark Perez.
Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) is a childless married couple who relax with friends playing highly competitive games like Scrabble and Charades. This night, however, with the return of his charming, successful brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), the game becomes fraught with sibling rivalry and violence that somehow never eclipses the humor. For the audience, determining what is just a game and what is real is the enjoyable endgame, and not easily solved.
The high-flying chases and quips remind me of Grant and Russell in their screwball days, throwing intellectual barbs while their lives are at stake (about a ditzy blonde guest: "Where'd you find her? TED Talk?"). Although Bateman has cornered the market on the clueless but still sharp middle class professional with the classic slow burn, McAdams is a discovery as a robust bright partner only a little clueless but plenty savvy. Her takeoff on Amanda Plummer with the diner hostages in Pulp Fiction is priceless.
Besides McAdams' surprise comedic chops, Jesse Plemons as the off- center, next-door cop Gary sheds his Matt Damon lookalike calling card and crafts a memorable role to prove his talent as a comic character. However, he's just another achiever in an ensemble overloaded with charm. Now and then a fine film comes in this dead-zone time of year: Game Night is that one, a promise of good films to come long after Oscar has gone to hibernation.
- JohnDeSando
- Feb 21, 2018
- Permalink
This expertly crafted film works as both a gut-bustingly funny comedy & a pulse-pounding thriller. Great performances across the board, McAdams & Bateman has great chemistry, & Plemmons steals the show as Todd.
- joanacatbagan
- Feb 20, 2019
- Permalink
This hilarious gonzo comedy has a sharp script, clever direction, and an excellent cast. In Game Night, writer Mark Perez and directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have crafted a tightly structured story with little visual tricks that turn out to be significant. That said, the movie really lives and dies by its cast, and this is a top-notch ensemble. Morris -- dependably funny on TV's New Girl -- gets laughs from his bubbling jealousy and dead-on Denzel Washington impersonation, clicking well with Bunbury. Horgan drily delivers as someone who's far too smart for her date; you'll likely wish there was more of her in the film. Magnussen is spectacularly idiotic as Ryan, which is a gift. Open-hearted blockheads are always welcome in comedies such as this, and Magnussen -- who's shown his dramatic chops in the likes of Birth of the Dragon -- hits it out of the park. Plemons' dead-eyed Gary generates big laughs by doing as little as possible. His stony "I see you" face and monotone delivery steal every scene he's in. (At one point, he happily invites the group into his house ... and, with a frozen smile, slowly backs into the darkness.)
And as Max and Annie, Bateman and McAdams have great chemistry. Their timing together, their small reactions to each other; they really read as a couple who love each other, have a lot in common, and accept each other's quirks. Oh, and they're really funny. Bateman, as usual, is an effective straight man with subdued wit. McAdams gets to be a little wackier than usual and has some superb reaction moments. They're an appealing pair, and we're happy to follow them through this gleefully bloody comedy with a fair amount of twists and genuine laughs.
And as Max and Annie, Bateman and McAdams have great chemistry. Their timing together, their small reactions to each other; they really read as a couple who love each other, have a lot in common, and accept each other's quirks. Oh, and they're really funny. Bateman, as usual, is an effective straight man with subdued wit. McAdams gets to be a little wackier than usual and has some superb reaction moments. They're an appealing pair, and we're happy to follow them through this gleefully bloody comedy with a fair amount of twists and genuine laughs.
- pstevens-17076
- Feb 22, 2018
- Permalink
This was a very enjoyable comedy. Plenty of jokes hit their mark and the audience loved it from the laughter I heard in the session. To be upfront I some advanced session tickets from the Australian distributor, won in a competition. So we all saw it for free, but if I wanted to see a good comedy this one is worth paying to watch.
The humour is good, nothing too highbrow but you won't find any crass humour here, just good fun throughout the film.
The film does have its silly moments and the twists towards the end stretch believability, but you don't really care as you don't watch this film to critique, but just to enjoy the ride for a few hours. The characters are not deep, but you quickly grow to like them all or feel sorry for them as the film flows on.
Enjoyable, good clean fun with the odd bit of blood, that is even used to humourous effect.
The humour is good, nothing too highbrow but you won't find any crass humour here, just good fun throughout the film.
The film does have its silly moments and the twists towards the end stretch believability, but you don't really care as you don't watch this film to critique, but just to enjoy the ride for a few hours. The characters are not deep, but you quickly grow to like them all or feel sorry for them as the film flows on.
Enjoyable, good clean fun with the odd bit of blood, that is even used to humourous effect.
I went to an advance screening of this movie and loved it. I go to the movies every week and it's rare to find a comedy that is actually funny throughout the entire film. Most of them seem to show all of the funny parts in the trailer.
Game Night is the exception. It is filled with nonstop laughs. The entire theater laughed throughout the movie. The actors are excellent, especially the always funny Jason Bateman. Rachel McAdams is hilarious. Great chemistry with all of the actors. Great plot.
If you are looking for a funny movie see Game Night.
Game Night is the exception. It is filled with nonstop laughs. The entire theater laughed throughout the movie. The actors are excellent, especially the always funny Jason Bateman. Rachel McAdams is hilarious. Great chemistry with all of the actors. Great plot.
If you are looking for a funny movie see Game Night.
- TheTruthDoor
- Feb 22, 2018
- Permalink
Another adults-only comedy from the makers of Horrible Bosses, Game Night is the latest in a long line of films operating within the ordinary-people-become-embroiled-in-crime subgenre. Putting a murder-mystery game-within-a-game spin on proceedings, it's essentially David Fincher's The Game with crude humour, which is exactly as good or bad as that sounds, depending on your tastes. Writer Mark Perez and directors John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein certainly don't hold back in their attempt to garner laughs. They throw everything from impersonations and horror parody to visual jokes and gross-out humour into the mix. It's hit and miss at best, but when it's funny it's really funny; a gag-inducing bullet extraction and a hilariously slow negotiation involving a dim-witted philanderer trying, and failing, to play hardball are a couple of memorable sequences almost worth the price of admission on their own. Unfortunately there are also plenty of clangers littered throughout-plus a completely misjudged subplot that tries to inject a message about growing up-that create sizeable laugh-free portions of the movie, especially in the final act. As the married couple who host the titular weekly event, Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are a hoot when playing off each other. His straight-faced quips and her bubbly/snarky barbs are an ideal match, so hopefully they share the screen again soon. As far from being a game changer as it is from being a complete dud, Game Night is an amusing diversion that'll be most enjoyed with an alcoholic beverage or two.
- Troy_Campbell
- Feb 25, 2018
- Permalink
To be honest, it's not an academy award film but it's much better than what some reviewers wrote. I won't say much, but I thought the casting was good and it was a silly, corn-ball type of movie that you're onviously not dgoing to take too seriously. I thought the actor who played the police officer was the highlight of the movie.
- pappysprite
- May 19, 2018
- Permalink
Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) meet in a bar trivia night. They bond over their competitive nature and their love of games. The couple marries. Their creepy next door neighbor Gary (Jesse Plemons) is desperate to get into their game night after his wife left him. Max is stressed with the arrival of his superior bossy older brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler). Brooks proposes a kidnapping game. When Brooks is really kidnapped, the gang thinks that it's all part of the game.
Bateman and McAdams are solid comedic actors. They're more fun than I expected. They simply work as a couple. The concept is great and somewhat different. Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury are good. The Denzel thing is fun although there is one or two awkward unfunny moments. Jesse Plemons is good at his dead-eye creepiness. I have some problems with the Sharon Horgan and Billy Magnussen coupling. I like Horgan but I don't believe she would stick with Magnussen's character. He's annoying and bad at playing outrageous. He's the weak spot on the roster. There is one or two too many turns on the fake kidnapping take. It wears out its welcome rather than being a funny call back. Overall, I like most of this movie with a couple of reservations.
Bateman and McAdams are solid comedic actors. They're more fun than I expected. They simply work as a couple. The concept is great and somewhat different. Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury are good. The Denzel thing is fun although there is one or two awkward unfunny moments. Jesse Plemons is good at his dead-eye creepiness. I have some problems with the Sharon Horgan and Billy Magnussen coupling. I like Horgan but I don't believe she would stick with Magnussen's character. He's annoying and bad at playing outrageous. He's the weak spot on the roster. There is one or two too many turns on the fake kidnapping take. It wears out its welcome rather than being a funny call back. Overall, I like most of this movie with a couple of reservations.
- SnoopyStyle
- May 10, 2018
- Permalink
I had such high hopes based on these reviews and the actors. Absolute nonsense. Nothing clever and very few laughs. I rarely review movies but this needs to be said.
- torgersonjennie
- May 4, 2018
- Permalink
We were drawn to this movie for Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, they always give good performances. Here they star as the married couple trying to have kids. But for me the real scene stealer is Jesse Plemons as the next door neighbor, the cop who is being shunned for the occasional game night among friends.
What starts out as a very tame game night gets wild right away, as one person is kidnapped and the rest are forced to look for him. But some of the criminal activity is fake, in the spirit of an extended game night. As the story moves along it becomes hard to know if certain things are fake or real.
It is a madcap movie, there are many very funny lines and observations in the script. All in all a very entertaining 90 or so minutes.
At home on DVD from our public library.
What starts out as a very tame game night gets wild right away, as one person is kidnapped and the rest are forced to look for him. But some of the criminal activity is fake, in the spirit of an extended game night. As the story moves along it becomes hard to know if certain things are fake or real.
It is a madcap movie, there are many very funny lines and observations in the script. All in all a very entertaining 90 or so minutes.
At home on DVD from our public library.
A few latter twists and turns don't quite feel genuine and the film starts to confuse itself with reveals that amount to nothing other than some slight plot-holes and leaps in logic, but 'Game Night (2018)' keeps up a fast pace and is always fun even when it isn't always funny - though it is just that on multiple occasions. It manages to be extremely entertaining and is actually surprisingly well directed, with some fancy camera-work and oddly visceral fight scenes superbly solidifying its thriller elements, while it never takes its eye off its comedy roots and therefore manages to keep a smile on your face even during some of its more obvious or on-the-nose moments. Fantastically fun stuff from start to finish. 7/10
- Pjtaylor-96-138044
- Mar 3, 2018
- Permalink
Most mainstream comedies these days are incredibly predictable and only good for maybe a handful of laughs. Game Night is not like these comedies. While some may see the "twists" coming, it's still enough to keep you interested while also laughing constantly throughout. Yes, Jason Bateman does play pretty much the same guy that he plays in everything, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as what he does it well. If you're looking for a comedy worth more than just a few laughs, I highly recommend this film
- cstover-28468
- Feb 14, 2019
- Permalink
A fun and fast-paced movie that blends genres, with elements of comedy, action, and romance. The cast is strong, led by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, and with a memorable performance from Jesse Plemons, who plays a creepy divorced cop. There are lots of little sub-plots that are kept up throughout the film, on top of its plot twists and outrageous moments, and it's entertaining from start to finish.
- gbill-74877
- Oct 18, 2018
- Permalink
This movie was a hilarious surprise. They took an ensemble cast that took clever writing and made it even funnier - and not just chuckle or think "that was a good joke" and smile - but actually laugh out loud funny. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams had awesome chemistry and were hilarious as a couple. In fact, all of the couples worked well together and the relationships were all unique in their comedy dynamics.
Another reviewer on here compares this to *shudder* Hot Tub Time Machine 2, and says this was full of pop culture references. All I can say to that is they must have seen a different movie or is WAY out of touch (unless a Fight Club reference is still considered pop culture). This movie's strengths come from the original jokes and spot-on delivery, and I can't remember once laughing during Hot Tub Time Machine 2, but this movie made my stomach hurt.
Another reviewer on here compares this to *shudder* Hot Tub Time Machine 2, and says this was full of pop culture references. All I can say to that is they must have seen a different movie or is WAY out of touch (unless a Fight Club reference is still considered pop culture). This movie's strengths come from the original jokes and spot-on delivery, and I can't remember once laughing during Hot Tub Time Machine 2, but this movie made my stomach hurt.
- bigbadbassface
- Feb 15, 2018
- Permalink
Sparks fly in the movie's opening scene. We're introduced to Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams), the obsessively competitive captains of their respective teams at a bar trivia night. The movie pokes a bit of fun at classic "love at first sight" moments with separate shots of the two staring lovingly at each other. They connect instantly and are soon married.
This scene paired with the opening credit sequence and reveal of the title, Game Night, is the equivalent of the directors throwing open the doors to boldly and loudly announce their presence. They grab the audience's attention and fill them with promise about what is to come. It's the most auspicious start to a comedy since The Hangover.
The statement is made-these guys are here to take chances in their aesthetic directing choices, so get ready for a ride full of rises and drops and twists and turns.
After the title reveal, the movie jumps ahead in time. Max and Annie are hosting game night. It starts off like any other, until Max's brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) shows up. He obnoxiously announces his presence and subsequently humiliates Max in front of his friends, just as he has since they were kids. Before the night ends, Brooks promises to host next week and take game night to the next level with a mystery, of sorts.
The next week's game night starts off tame, as Brooks explains that someone is going to be taken. It'll be up the rest of the group to find this person, and the first to do so wins Brooks's new car. So, of course, no one bats an eye when two men storm in with guns and forcibly take Brooks away. But it doesn't take the other game night guests long to realize that this was not part of the plan.
From there, the night's events ensue in hilarity and surprises. Jesse Plemmons makes an appearance as the odd, uninvited neighbor and immediately steals the movie. His awkward, monotone, always-in-uniform police officer schtick deserves real acclaim. That guy has serious talent. Who knew that the bully from Like Mike would turn out to be such an accomplished actor?
Plemmons also delivers the movie's best line. I won't spoil it, but it involves Tostitos.
Overall, the performances are fun, though eclectic, which is fine because the story is set up in a way that this one couple can go here and do this funny thing while this other couple goes here and has their own funny moment. They're each bringing their own variation of humor, which gives the comedy a broader appeal.
The directors are clearly having a good time balancing the array of characters within a convoluted plot. They make daring choices that stand out. The choices don't always work, but they always catch your eye, which is enough in a movie like this. The filmmakers clearly wanted to add a little extra spice to keep the viewers on their toes (or more accurately, hunched forward, since they are sitting down).
I don't want to resort to hyperbole here, but the movie nearly reaches the point threshold of thrilling. There's the right amount of story to juggle. Anymore would be overwhelming and too much less would make the movie dry.
I'm still not sure if the entire story checks out. A few moments felt like plot holes, but I can forgive minor infractions. The end of the movie felt kind of like two kids had cleaned up just enough after their party so that mom and dad wouldn't notice. They might be suspicious, but they can't immediately say with absolute certainty that something was wrong. I, the suspicious parent, saw the house still intact, shrugged and left well enough alone.
The recommendation here is pretty easy. People like this movie. I recommend it to virtually anyone looking for a fun time at the theater.
This scene paired with the opening credit sequence and reveal of the title, Game Night, is the equivalent of the directors throwing open the doors to boldly and loudly announce their presence. They grab the audience's attention and fill them with promise about what is to come. It's the most auspicious start to a comedy since The Hangover.
The statement is made-these guys are here to take chances in their aesthetic directing choices, so get ready for a ride full of rises and drops and twists and turns.
After the title reveal, the movie jumps ahead in time. Max and Annie are hosting game night. It starts off like any other, until Max's brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) shows up. He obnoxiously announces his presence and subsequently humiliates Max in front of his friends, just as he has since they were kids. Before the night ends, Brooks promises to host next week and take game night to the next level with a mystery, of sorts.
The next week's game night starts off tame, as Brooks explains that someone is going to be taken. It'll be up the rest of the group to find this person, and the first to do so wins Brooks's new car. So, of course, no one bats an eye when two men storm in with guns and forcibly take Brooks away. But it doesn't take the other game night guests long to realize that this was not part of the plan.
From there, the night's events ensue in hilarity and surprises. Jesse Plemmons makes an appearance as the odd, uninvited neighbor and immediately steals the movie. His awkward, monotone, always-in-uniform police officer schtick deserves real acclaim. That guy has serious talent. Who knew that the bully from Like Mike would turn out to be such an accomplished actor?
Plemmons also delivers the movie's best line. I won't spoil it, but it involves Tostitos.
Overall, the performances are fun, though eclectic, which is fine because the story is set up in a way that this one couple can go here and do this funny thing while this other couple goes here and has their own funny moment. They're each bringing their own variation of humor, which gives the comedy a broader appeal.
The directors are clearly having a good time balancing the array of characters within a convoluted plot. They make daring choices that stand out. The choices don't always work, but they always catch your eye, which is enough in a movie like this. The filmmakers clearly wanted to add a little extra spice to keep the viewers on their toes (or more accurately, hunched forward, since they are sitting down).
I don't want to resort to hyperbole here, but the movie nearly reaches the point threshold of thrilling. There's the right amount of story to juggle. Anymore would be overwhelming and too much less would make the movie dry.
I'm still not sure if the entire story checks out. A few moments felt like plot holes, but I can forgive minor infractions. The end of the movie felt kind of like two kids had cleaned up just enough after their party so that mom and dad wouldn't notice. They might be suspicious, but they can't immediately say with absolute certainty that something was wrong. I, the suspicious parent, saw the house still intact, shrugged and left well enough alone.
The recommendation here is pretty easy. People like this movie. I recommend it to virtually anyone looking for a fun time at the theater.
- Jared_Andrews
- Mar 9, 2018
- Permalink
When it comes to dark comedies, Game Night plays its cards right. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams make a great team, and Jesse Plemons is absolutely hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud much more than I thought I would. The fun twists and turns do require some suspension of disbelief but, then again, so do most role-playing games. If you're in the mood for a laugh, I'd definitely recommend rolling the dice and watching this movie.
- cricketbat
- Dec 27, 2018
- Permalink
It is what it is , is it a silly remake of (The Game) yes! Still funny! It's a easy watch with laughs! Stay away from the trolls!
- nyhc-10098
- May 28, 2018
- Permalink
This is going to sound ridiculous, because they are wildly different, but my thoughts on Game Night are similar to my thoughts on American Hustle. Are they perfect movies with pristine plots? Maybe not, but between the great performances, humor, and relentless fun energy of the films, they're so easy to get caught up in.
Game Night lived up to the rumors I'd heard about its humor, but exceeded my expectations in both creativity of the plot and technical elements. The jokes pretty much all land, as the script is great. never overplaying or repeating the same jokes but relying on strong chemistry between actors and clever lines to deliver humor. I thought the plot was simple and obvious - Brooks set the whole thing up, duh - but the twist with how the whole night actually happened and what the situation with Brooks really was was super smart. Yes, the plot goes into some wild directions, from the accidental gunshot to the crazy hot potato with the egg to the climactic plane fight, but it never goes off the rails completely. McAdams is really phenomenal in the lead and frankly one of the best performances of 2018 for me, and the whole ensemble is effective (though Ryan could've been a little less stupid). The peripherals were all very good - a good score, very creative cinematography, and lots of small touches and details, down to a hilarious end credits scene. Even the romance was well done, with what felt like a real relationship and nice scenes with a bunch of fast takes. Comedies never get a lot of respect, and there have been few really good ones lately, so the ones that are genuinely funny and also work from a filmmaking perspective deserve to be considered great movies period, and Game Night is one of them.
- andrewroy-04316
- Aug 11, 2019
- Permalink
I'm going, to be honest, I didn't like this film the first time I saw it. I'm not sure if it was the hype around it. There was so much hype around it. So many reviewers and people had explained that it was one of the best Hollywood comedies in a very long time. But then it got comparisons to The Hangover, which I'm not a fan of. Maybe I had put too much on the film, that I wanted too much from it. But it didn't wow me like it did with most people. Even now I'm seeing it on favorite lists and best film lists. I wouldn't put it that high. But I did, after the second time I saw it, enjoyed it much more than I did the first time.
Game Night stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as Max and Anne a married couple who met at a game night and now throw game nights at their house for their close friends. When Max's brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) shows up, he stages a murder mystery game night but things quickly escalate out of hand. Their fun game night turns into a comedic mess with mysterious characters, action, drama, suspense and a hilarious incident with a neighbor's dog. Rounding out the cast is Jesse Plemons as a neighbor who used to join in on game night, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Sharon Horgan, and Billy Magnussen. There are a few cameos in the film that I won't spoil here.
Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein do a very smart thing in shooting the film more like a thriller or an action movie. There are wide shots, long tracking shot and a nice vivid color palette to the cinematography. It makes for a more immersive feel of the film. It doesn't look like a comedy at all. When the comedy happens they are forced, it comes natural either from the characters or the situations they find them in. Plemons character is there for comedic timing but it works with the rest of the film. I wouldn't really consider this an action comedy but it gets there. Being R Rated (thank you, filmmakers, for that) the film is surprisingly violent. Characters get beaten, shot and there's one gruesome death near the end.
Bateman is doing his usual shtick but it works well for the film. McAdams seems like she is having a blast and she shines in the film. He character you can not root for the entire time. They have great chemistry and like all couples their share of ups and down. If anyone outdoes McAdams is Plemons who steals every scene as their police officer neighbor who doesn't get the invite to game night anymore for a reason best seen then explained here. He's creepy, he's odd, but he's downright hilarious almost every time he's on screen. I've seen him in things before but this is his break out performance and I'm very excited to see him in this the upcoming Antlers with Guillermo del Toro on as a producer.
When the film gets wild it's nice to see the filmmakers have seen a few action movies. The scenes are shot well and not edited to death. There is a chase that builds some nice tension with also being pretty funny. The directors use some angles and types of shots not normally used in a comedy. I'm happy to say they shot the film like a movie, not a comedy. After this second viewing, I can very much recommend Game Night as a pretty funny comedic thriller. I don't see them making a sequel but when the final moment in the film, I wouldn't be surprised. This is definitely a gather a group and all laugh together type of film.
Game Night stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as Max and Anne a married couple who met at a game night and now throw game nights at their house for their close friends. When Max's brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) shows up, he stages a murder mystery game night but things quickly escalate out of hand. Their fun game night turns into a comedic mess with mysterious characters, action, drama, suspense and a hilarious incident with a neighbor's dog. Rounding out the cast is Jesse Plemons as a neighbor who used to join in on game night, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Sharon Horgan, and Billy Magnussen. There are a few cameos in the film that I won't spoil here.
Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein do a very smart thing in shooting the film more like a thriller or an action movie. There are wide shots, long tracking shot and a nice vivid color palette to the cinematography. It makes for a more immersive feel of the film. It doesn't look like a comedy at all. When the comedy happens they are forced, it comes natural either from the characters or the situations they find them in. Plemons character is there for comedic timing but it works with the rest of the film. I wouldn't really consider this an action comedy but it gets there. Being R Rated (thank you, filmmakers, for that) the film is surprisingly violent. Characters get beaten, shot and there's one gruesome death near the end.
Bateman is doing his usual shtick but it works well for the film. McAdams seems like she is having a blast and she shines in the film. He character you can not root for the entire time. They have great chemistry and like all couples their share of ups and down. If anyone outdoes McAdams is Plemons who steals every scene as their police officer neighbor who doesn't get the invite to game night anymore for a reason best seen then explained here. He's creepy, he's odd, but he's downright hilarious almost every time he's on screen. I've seen him in things before but this is his break out performance and I'm very excited to see him in this the upcoming Antlers with Guillermo del Toro on as a producer.
When the film gets wild it's nice to see the filmmakers have seen a few action movies. The scenes are shot well and not edited to death. There is a chase that builds some nice tension with also being pretty funny. The directors use some angles and types of shots not normally used in a comedy. I'm happy to say they shot the film like a movie, not a comedy. After this second viewing, I can very much recommend Game Night as a pretty funny comedic thriller. I don't see them making a sequel but when the final moment in the film, I wouldn't be surprised. This is definitely a gather a group and all laugh together type of film.
- TheJohnnyPHreak
- Jan 11, 2019
- Permalink
Comedy is a hard genre to get right on screen. It is one of the most subjective kinds of films there is, and even comedies that are generally defined as being great can still fall flat for some people. That is simply the nature of the art of comedy. Unfortunately, this results in us, the consumers, not getting very many good comedies. Instead, there is an overabundance of brutally sh*tty comedies that make you dig your face into the palm of your hand and question why you wasted $10 and two hours of your time to watch this garbage. This was exactly my experience with Game Night, the new film from Vacation directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. I doubt many people were counting down the days until they could go see Game Night, nor could anyone be blamed for thinking it looked like a steaming pile of sh*t. The trailers never came across as if the film could actually be anything worthwhile. But then, the unimaginable happened. Reviews began dropping for the movie, and it suddenly was certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an 81% critics rating. I had never intended on seeing Game Night, but after seeing the surprisingly strong reviews it was getting, I decided to go check it out. However, I have come to regret that decision. Game Night is everything I had originally thought it was going to be, from having terrible humor to cringe-worthy performances...
- themovieparadise
- Mar 1, 2018
- Permalink