Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016) User Reviews

Has Some Fun Moments. What Else Did You Expect?

[namashi_1 · 6/10 · 4 May 2017]

'Keeping Up with the Joneses' is a fair Spy-Comedy, that has some fun moments. Its got some laughs, despite all the silliness around. What else did you expect anyway?

'Keeping Up with the Joneses' Synopsis: A suburban couple becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover that their seemingly perfect new neighbors are government spies.

Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher and Gal Gadot are the true strengths of 'Keeping Up with the Joneses'. Zach is happily stupid & raises some good laughs, Fisher is fabulous, Hamm is anything but a ham & Gadot is the hottest thing you'll see on the big screen in a long time. The 4 talented actors sportingly deliver in this predictable comedy, showing us their potential yet again.

Michael LeSieur's Screenplay is fair, with some hilarity in store, while Greg Mottola's Direction is satisfactory, at best.

On the whole, 'Keeping Up with the Joneses' is a great way to kill a dull afternoon.

Autistic Reviewers Opinion Of This Movie.

[autisticreviewers · 5/10 · 23 October 2016]

"A suburban couple becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover that their seemingly perfect new neighbors are government spies. " The comedy of "Keeping Up with the Joneses" comes from exaggeration. Mottola and screenwriter Michael LeSieur play up a suburban oasis for Jeff and Karen, with the pair living an idyllic life in a beautiful home. She's an interior designer, he's a practiced corporate negotiator, and while their marriage is stable, it's become flavorless. You've seen these characters before, and the production does little to disturb expectations, highlighting sexual dysfunction in the household, with newfound summertime freedom inspiring thoughts of savage coupling, only to have the pair maintain distance out of habit. There's no twist, no larger message of love. Jeff and Karen are set up as cheerful nothings easily overwhelmed by the arrival of Tim and Natalie, who stun their neighbors with flawless style, beauty, and sophistication. They're incredible, bewitching the community with tales of international travel and the display of impressive dart-throwing skills.

Gal Gadot is always good at playing at the sexy lady and Jon Hamm was good at playing his manipulating and sly character. There's hardly any jokes that work in the movie, and if it wasn't for Isla Fisher and Zach Galifianakis's improvisational Comedy it would've flopped big time! The movie had one of the biggest disappointing showdowns we've ever seen. All in all, it's not a disastrous movie, but your best bet is to rent it on Netflix. 5/10. 2/5 stars.

Not hard to keep up with, it's a very OK.

[subxerogravity · 6/10 · 21 October 2016]

It's a pretty good comedy.

The average Suburban family gets a new neighbors, who are more than what they seem. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher made a cute couple in the movie. very good comedy duo in an mediocre film.

Jon Hamm is a fantastic straight man for the comedy that Galifianakis was dishing out.

Gal Gadot is impressive. She's the one who has to keep up with the other three and she does a good job. i don't think I've seen her do anything outside the Fast and Furious movies so it was nice to see that she can do something else.

I know i'm sitting here writing about the film, but for the most part there is really is not anything to write about. It gives you enough laughs so I feel like I did not waste my cash, but it's definitely not a movie you'll remember down the road. Nothing spectacular.

Average Affair with Some Big Laughs,

[lesleyharris30 · 7/10 · 14 January 2017]

Keeping Up with the Joneses is a good movie with a reasonably well developed plot and a fantastic comedic cast. The highlight of the film is certainly the connection and chemistry between the four main cast members, all of the individual relationships between Zach Galifanakis, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot is what makes this movie watchable. They all have great comedic timing with one another, it was clear they had trust in each other.

I did feel the plot did not go as far as a viewer would expect a film about spies to go. The final act is very underwhelming, as we are expecting this big blow out, but it actually ends up being very straight forward and predictable, nothing shocking or truly exciting really occurs.

As well as that, it simply is not as funny as it should have been. I had higher hopes with a cast like this, I was expecting a laugh a minute sort of movie, but there are several scenes without a single good joke in there. The writing came across as somewhat lazy, as if they gave up halfway through.

It does show that a film that is verging on mediocrity can be saved simply by the sincere chemistry between its lead cast. While it is certainly flawed, Keeping up with the Joneses is still mindless fun, worth the watch if you are looking for a good comedy, but do not go out of your way to see it.

A suburban couple discover their new neighbours are undercover spies.

Best Performance: Jon Hamm

Nice action-comedy

[nixy-caos · 7/10 · 10 April 2021]

Considering the action-comedy subcategory, "Keeping Up with the Joneses" does its job pretty well. Entertaining and enjoyable (but don't expect too much). Gal Gadot does have an impressive screen presence.

Funny & Silly (For me latter wins)

[pawanpunjabithewriter · 4/10 · 19 September 2021]

I have been looking for this movie everywhere for years. In mid 2021, I happened to know it's now on Hotstar. I jumped on it, however, not in the greatest of moods I expected I would watch this movie in. The Cast is exceptional. Gal Gadot impresses yet again. Zach is not the Zach we have known. He seemed lost through out. He didn't seem to be in character. I didn't expect such from the actor I was watching this movie for. He really didn't do a good job.

Coming to the story, it seemed average, not bad really. For first, it felt as if I'm watching the remake of a bollywood movie, Ajnabee. That movie was on another level. And this one, really kept losing the sense. It didn't have much comedy either, all the comedy it had made it even sillier and dumb. It felt as it it will pick up, but it didn't much. Although the end was convincing enough, however the antagonist was meaningless and weak; very weak. We love to see comedy, however, not with antagonist's silly mistakes making the crowd laugh. An antagonist is expected to be the strongest individual than any in the story. And the movie is a journey of the protagonist's struggle, failure, hard work and ambition, and a process of making him stronger than the the antagonist with such struggle, hard work and failures. This movie lacked the base a story has. For comedy, it tried a lot, still, couldn't deliver. They ticked only one box rightly of a sound story; having a proper climax. They justified the new couple's existence and designed a proper end to it.

I was disappointed with this movie, however, If you are looking to waste time or want to watch something for passing the time, you can give a try. It won't keep you at the edge of your seat though.

Guys, no masterpiece here but I actually had fun

[marno76 · 7/10 · 5 May 2023]

I just watched - "on a streaming service" . This movie that passed under the radar here in Italy.

My gf proposed it and I had no expectations at all.

It came after we had watched some really bad movies from the past (Spy hard, terrible and Hot Shots, worse than it seemed to my 15 yo self).

Well this movie made me laugh.

Yes, it's simple, formulaic maybe, but I found both actors very good and honest/heartfelt.

I liked especially Galifianakis in the role of the guy who cant keep his mouth shut, maybe because I am bit like him, but he is honest and transparent, maybe to much.

I also liked Jon Hamm in his semi serious bad guy misterious man version.

The girls were very good too and the jokes were quite good to me.

Ok the best I had was the unrivaled Spy with Melissa McCarth and Statham but this was good too.

Funny and not vulgar. Family and love oriented, finally.

Better than people here say.

[sathervbc · 9/10 · 6 May 2019]

Ya know, everyone in real life I know loved this film. It's fun. Then you come here and a bunch of civilians making comments about real life spies and tool bags hating on this flick. Whatever, watch it and consider it entertainment like it was Intended.

Amusing, but doesn't quite reach the level of funny

[cricketbat · 6/10 · 6 January 2021]

Keeping Up with the Joneses is amusing, but it never quite reaches the level of funny. Despite the fact that Isla Fisher, Zach Galifianakis, and Jon Hamm have all proven their comedy chops before, none of them are really able to shine in this movie. It's an interesting concept with a completely predictable story and-much like my quiet, introverted neighbors-I'll probably forget about it soon.

Entertaining and fun

[dianaschleisman · 12 August 2023]

I was slightly skeptical when I saw the reviews were lukewarm. After watching it, my husband and I were surprised because it was so much better!

It was entertaining, fun, captivating, well written, well, acted, well directed, and really just pleasant all around.

It was a perfect movie to watch when we were looking for a light-hearted comedic movie.

The cast was well selected, the writing was fitting. The directing was appropriate. We really could not ask for more. It all fit together like a well connected puzzle. It was not too heavy, not too stupid, not too difficult, but just purely enjoyable.

Delivers on Silly and Absurd

[jackfulton12 · 7/10 · 10 May 2018]

This movie is predictable as hell, but I didn't exactly watch Keeping up the Joneses to be surprised by brilliant twists and turns. One method of comedy is to blatantly set up things in order to pay them off in a silly way, and this did plenty of that. The performances in it by all four leads - Zach Galifanakas, Isla Fischer, Jon Hamm, and Gal Gadot - were fantastic. They were fully committed to the absurdity.

Simple but funny...

[Thanos_Alfie · 6/10 · 16 October 2020]

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" is an Action - Comedy movie in which we watch a couple living in the suburbs peacefully when some new neighbors move in their neighborhood. The new neighbors have something to hide and they have also many secrets which they want to remain hidden.

I liked this movie because I found it very funny, it had a simple but interesting plot and some very good interpretations by its cast. The direction which was made by Greg Mottola was good and he presented very well the characters. He did an excellent on keeping the plot simple and promoting the characters and their interpretations. In addition to this, the interpretations of both Zach Galifianakis who played as Jeff Gaffney and Isla Fisher who played as Karen Gaffney were very good, funny and along with the interpretations of Gal Gadot who played as Natalie Jones and Jon Hamm who played as Tim Jones they made this movie even funnier but also more balanced. Finally, I have to say that "Keeping Up with the Joneses" is a nice, funny movie to watch and spend your time with and I highly recommend it to everyone.

I just wish the movie could have been a little funnier.

[Hellmant · 6/10 · 21 November 2016]

'KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES': Three Stars (Out of Five)

The new action-comedy from director Greg Mottola; the man who brought us 'SUPERBAD', 'ADVENTURELAND' and 'PAUL' (all great films in my opinion). This movie is sadly not so great. It tells the story of a suburban couple, that suspects their picture-perfect new neighbors might be government spies. The movie was written by Michael LeSieur (who also wrote 'YOU, ME AND DUPREE'); and it stars Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot. It's received mostly poor reviews from critics, and it also bombed at the Box Office. I found it to be mildly amusing, but mostly disappointing.

Jeff Gafney (Galifianakis), and his wife Karen (Fisher), both live a pretty boring and average suburban life. That all changes though, when their new neighbors move in. Tim (Hamm) and Natalie Jones (Gadot) seem too perfect to be true; their both extremely good looking, successful and talented. Karen right away suspects something is off about the two; and when her suspicions turn out to be true, Jeff and Karen both find themselves involved in life threatening international espionage.

The film has a great setup; I really like the characters and the story, it just doesn't follow through that well. Mottola's direction is adequate, and the performances are all good (I'm becoming a huge Gal Gadot fan), it's just not that funny. The action scenes are decent though, for a slapstick comedy like this. I just wish the movie could have been a little funnier. Like I said, it's mildly amusing though.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://vimeo.com/192396224

A hilarious action comedy...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 10 May 2017]

I decided to watch "Keeping Up with the Joneses" for two reasons, the first being because Zach Galifianakis starred in it, and the second being that he usually stars in some really entertaining and great comedies.

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" is a story that involves a very generic suburban couple, Jeff (played by Zach Galifianakis) and Karen (played by Isla Fisher), whom become entangled in an international espionage plot when they accidentally discover the new neighbors, Tim (played by Jon Hamm) and Natalie (played by Gal Gadot), turn out to be government spies.

Director Greg Mottola did a great job in bringing a great mixture of story, comedy and action together for a wholesome and entertaining movie experience on the screen. And also a big thumbs up to writer Michael LeSieur.

This movie has some wonderful talents to the cast list, actors and actresses whom are able to combine comedy and action together. Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher really brought the comedy out in the movie, while Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot brought out most of the action but also supplied with comedy. Aside from these lead performers, there were also a great performance and appearance by Patton Oswalt.

I had a good amount of fun and was brought to laughs often throughout the course of this movie. The comedy is clever and works out quite well as it is executed on the screen.

If you enjoy comedies then "Keeping Up with the Joneses" is definitely a good pick given the storyline, the comedy and the entertainment that it provides.

One of this year's worst comedies

[Ramascreen · 1/10 · 20 October 2016]

There's nothing I hate more than a comedy movie that seems to be funny only in its trailers or previews but the movie itself, in its entirety, fails to crack you up in every possible way. Look, when you come in to watch a comedy, there's a certain expectation that you'd be laughing out loud, and so when that doesn't happen, it becomes a total waste of time. And that's KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES for ya!

Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher play an ordinary suburban couple, the Gaffneys, whose lives are mundane. Their kids are out to summer camp and they have the whole house to themselves, but the can't even get themselves to go wild and have fun. Until the mysterious new neighbor moves in, The Joneses, played by Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot. They seem so sophisticated, so accomplished, so exciting and perfect and this whole thing attracts the Gaffneys,.. that is until they discover that the Joneses are covert operatives.

I was ready to call this film the Mr. & Mrs. Smith of Comedy, but I take it all back now, because as far as action comedy goes, KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES is as dull and unexciting as the Gaffneys are. I wonder what exactly is it about Michael LeSieur's screenplay that made the studio and the producers want to gamble on it. Every punch line in this film goes way past your head because it either tries too hard or doesn't even try at all. And the film badly wants to be perceived as making some kind of effort to tackle themes of coupling and marriage or the complications of relationship, but what ends up happening instead are the characters arguing among themselves and we the audience tuning them out . Engaging is not even in the same area code as KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES which should be an example of one of the year's worst films.

-- Rama's Screen --

Fun

[depauw-97447 · 7/10 · 1 January 2019]

Fun film that doesn't take itself seriously. Enjoyed the spin on spy films

A little generic & predictable but a movie that will keep you laughing and extremely entertained the entire time.

[cosmo_tiger · 8/10 · 12 January 2017]

"Ten years, thirty countries no one finds us out and we can't even last a week in suburbia." Jeff (Galifianakis) and Karen (Fisher) Gaffney are a normal suburban couple with an average non-exciting life. When a new couple moves into the neighborhood they become friends with them, but the new couple has a secret. Now Jeff and Karen are put in the middle of a deadly high stakes deal with no idea what they are doing. First thing I have to say about this is that the movie is really funny and entertaining. There really isn't anything all that new and the movie is a little cookie cutter, but the acting and jokes make it seem fresh and exciting. The chemistry between all four of the actors is almost perfect and really helps the movie a ton. This movie won't win any awards or become a classic, but it is hilarious and I laughed throughout the entire thing. That is what a good comedy should do. I would compare this to Central Intelligence. You pretty much know what's going to happen the entire time, but you can't stop watching and laughing. Overall, a little generic and predictable but a movie that will keep you laughing and extremely entertained the entire time. This is a great watch. I give this a B+.

surprising foursome

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 17 March 2018]

In suburban Atlanta, married couple Jeff (Zach Galifianakis) and Karen Gaffney (Isla Fisher) drop off their sons for the summer camp. They have a temporary empty nest. Tim (Jon Hamm) and Natalie Jones (Gal Gadot) move into the neighborhood. They are exotic, friendly, beautiful, super-skilled, and overly interested in Jeff's workplace.

This has a certain fun with the foursome together. They have a nice comedic chemistry. Isla Fisher is probably too cute and beautiful. Her character needs to be the opposite of Gal Gadot although the height difference with Wonder Woman is quite funny during the lingerie scene. Isla is a pretty funny comedic actress which helps a lot. There are ways to push this harder but it does hold back. Galifianakis could have been more dead pan wacky. While the four actors do good work together, the premise and the writing adds little new to the genre.

Funny but not memorable

[Gordon-11 · 8 January 2017]

This film tells the story of a couple living in a suburb. One day the house opposite their house is sold to a seemingly perfect couple, who is widely travelled and have an impressive array of skills to impress. Something's not as perfect as it seems, as the new neighbours turn out to be agents.

The title suggests that the film could be about rivalry between neighbours, but it has nothing to do with it. The plot is quite silly and far fetched in a true comedy style. The neighbours are so unbelievable perfect, which is great escapism for the viewers. There film did make me laugh a few times, but most of the time I find it over the top. It's not a bad comedy, because it does make people laugh. It's not very memorable either.

Fun, funny, good movie overall

[robinisng · 7/10 · 13 November 2020]

I really enjoyed this movie, can i say it's a solid cast? An okay storyline and fun dialogues.

Funny? not so much, Entertaining? Yep!

[djmrmusic · 6/10 · 20 January 2017]

It has a bit of a slow start, about halfway through things start to get interesting. The laughs really aren't there, at least in my opinion, but once it gets going, it's a fun ride.

if you have a low tolerance for laughs, you will find some things funny.

it's a spy movie that tries to be funny, it just falls a bit short in the comedy department.

Personally I think casting Rob Riggle as Tom Jones might have made this a really funny movie, but the people that were cast did not do a bad job.

watch it for the entertainment, but you probably won't find the laughs you might be looking for.

overall, good flick! you will not find that you wasted your time watching it!

A Hilarious and Thrilling Adventure!

[sufyaanrashid95 · 7/10 · 2 August 2023]

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" is a delightful blend of comedy and action that keeps viewers entertained from start to finish. Directed by Greg Mottola, this film offers a fresh and entertaining take on the classic spy genre. With a talented ensemble cast and a cleverly written script, it delivers a fun-filled ride that will leave audiences laughing and on the edge of their seats.

The story follows an ordinary suburban couple, played by a charismatic duo, who find themselves embroiled in a high-stakes espionage plot when their new neighbors turn out to be spies. The film excels in its ability to balance thrilling action sequences with side-splitting humor. The comedic timing and chemistry between the cast members bring the script's witty dialogue to life, resulting in numerous laugh-out-loud moments.

The ensemble cast is a standout feature of "Keeping Up with the Joneses." The lead actors effortlessly embody their characters, bringing charm and charisma to the screen. Each member of the Joneses, played by a talented ensemble, adds their own unique quirks and comedic flair, creating a dynamic and entertaining group of characters.

The film's action sequences are well-executed, providing the necessary thrills and excitement. From high-speed car chases to intense fight scenes, the movie keeps viewers engaged with its well-choreographed and visually appealing set pieces. The espionage plot unfolds at a brisk pace, ensuring that there is never a dull moment.

Beyond the laughs and action, the film also touches upon themes of trust, friendship, and the importance of being true to oneself. It adds a layer of depth to the story, making it more than just a surface-level comedy.

Visually, the film is polished and aesthetically pleasing. The suburban setting is portrayed with attention to detail, creating a picturesque backdrop for the unfolding events. The soundtrack complements the tone of the film, enhancing both the comedic and action-packed moments.

In summary, "Keeping Up with the Joneses" is a hilarious and thrilling adventure that delivers on both the comedy and action fronts. With its talented cast, clever writing, and well-executed action sequences, the film offers an entertaining experience for audiences. So buckle up and get ready for a wild and laughter-filled ride!

Zack is not a leading man

[dbarrydinkins · 6/10 · 13 June 2021]

Zack is a funny guy but he can't play an every day guy. He can't carry a movie as the lead. Neither could Belushi.

Dismal beyond description

[lneil-51-106502 · 1/10 · 6 January 2017]

I struggle to find the adjectives to sufficiently express how truly bad this movie was - in my opinion, of course. I understand that everyone has varied tastes, but cannot actually envisage anyone enjoying this movie if they have sufficient remaining brain function to maintain their body's natural breathing reflex.

Okay, a thin basic plot device and vacuous story-line can be overcome to some extent by clever writing, directing and acting. Unfortunately, in this case there was no cleverness or quality to save the movie, which I found to be a cheap, superficial, unfunny disaster that made me cringe with every single scene. I usually enjoy the occasional bad movie, recognising that the 'badness' can sometimes offer a certain charm of its own. This cinematic dross does not.

Still struggling to find the right adjectives..... Nope, I don't think they've been coined yet.

Another silly spy spoof saved by solid acting performances

[ayoreinf · 8/10 · 20 October 2016]

I've got a thing for spy comedies, I've seen most of the recent ones and many of the older ones. It's a genre so based on plot twists that most of them can be seen a mile away, especially if you've already seen some. This one is no different. No real plot twist is really surprising, including the final joke. And still, I had loads of fun watching it, because most of the jokes are actually character driven, and the characters are very well written, and well performed by most. That is, Isla Fisher, Zach Galifianakis and Jon Hamm, are practically super. Gal Gadot got the warrior woman with the menacing looks nailed to the teeth, but is a bit less convincing when she has to be sensitive or subtle. It doesn't happen often during the movie, so it's not a big issue, but there are a few moments in which she's off character. But everybody else around does such a good job, the jokes work, and the pace is fast enough for us not to care it's not so very surprising.

I liked it, most of the people around me in the cinema liked it too. If you don't expect a masterpiece, just plain simple fun - you'll find it here.