'Game Night' A Review

Game Night is a thriller/comedy about a game-obsessed married couple that get caught up in a live-action murder mystery that may or may not be real. The film opens on Max(Jason Bateman) and Annie(Rachel McAdams) at Bar Trivia, two intensely compeditive people who connect over the course of the night. Through a montage we see their relationship and eventual marriage. In the present they host a weekly game night with their friends. One night after excluding their awkward cop neighbor Gary(Jesse Plemons) they are surprised by Max's charming successful brother Brooks(Kyle Chandler). The night goes well and Brooks invites the group to his place the following week for a more interactive evening. When Brooks is assaulted and dragged out of his house by masked men it begins a game night to remember.

Bateman and McAdams have a wonderful chemistry, operating as a team, conveying what feels like a real healthy partnership. Neither of them may not be doing anything new but McAdams magnetism is always wonderful and Bateman tried and true everyman fits much better within this film than some of his other more recent pedestrian offerings. The ensemble cast is wondeful from the stunningly weird and hilarious Plemons to the clearly having a ball in a comedy Chandler. The Max and Annie's friend group also really contribute to making the chemistry seamless. Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury as Kevin and Michelle respectively have a couple great running gags and are just along for the ride but even so anchor and elevate the film by just being in it. Billy Magnussen and Sharon Horgan as Ryan and Sarah respectively have a fun divergent little storyline that never distracts only enhances the main action of the film. All the small character arcs and running jokes are woven together with a surprising delicate grace considering on paper or from the trailer this appears to be an unremarkable post-Apatow comedy.

Aside from pitch-perfect casting the production design has surprising style. The thrumming score and sharp cinematography create a sense of mystery and momentum that hook you in and propel the film forward. It also clarifies the film's identity, defines it in a way a lot of modern comedy doesn't bother to do. There's an extended hot-potato-esk sequence that is shot in one unbroken take that, visually, puts the Game Night in a more sophisticated playing field altogether.

The film tries, and succeeds, in creating a satisfying genre piece that is also funny. It takes risks and makes stylistic choices that feel very fresh and fun because modern comedy is almost defined by its stunning lack of cinematic panache. Hopefully this is the start of a trend.

Don't Miss It.