Game Night is the best high-concept comedy that I have seen in a long time. If you're not familiar with the term, a "high-concept comedy" is a comedy that is centered around an interesting and original plot rather than character development and humor. Through an original and engaging premise, a good high-concept comedy is able to bring those characters forward and the humor comes naturally. The best recent examples are The Hangover, Bridesmaids, and Horrible Bosses. Game Night centers on Max and Annie, an overly competitive couple struggling to have a child due to Max's inadequacy when constantly compared to his successful brother. When Max's brother takes over the routine game night for the week, he introduces an elaborate murder mystery involving the mob, in which none of the party will know what is real and what is staged. The concept is incredible, and it's executed brilliantly. But the concept is worthless if the jokes don't click, and I can safely assure that you will laugh a lot during Game Night. There were a few scenes in which I could not stop laughing, and the jokes were consistent. There was never a dull moment. However, in the third act, Game Night awkwardly treads cliché territory, it became a little ridiculous for my tastes, and lost its originality. Yet I cannot discount how brilliant, fun, and simply hilarious Game Night is.
Rachel McAdams is the clear standout of the cast, and she is experiencing a truly unexpected renaissance. With a femme fatale part in Sherlock Holmes, an Oscar-nominated performance in Spotlight, a great supporting role in Marvel's Doctor Strange, and now a hilarious turn in Game Night, she's proving she truly has range. As Annie, she is able to channel a feeling of familiarity. I couldn't think of who she reminded me of, but I just felt like I knew someone as simple and as scatter-brained as she. There's a scene in a bar in which she doesn't realize she's holding a real gun. She prances around, waving it to Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life" and spewing awkward curses, clearly trying to replicate Pulp Fiction. Jason Bateman was very good, but wasn't a standout. I've seen similar work from him in the past, but he does provide a good center for the film to anchor itself upon. His chemistry with McAdams is undeniable. They both sunk right into their roles and were both believable and relatable. The other standout is Jesse Plemmons of Breaking Bad, Black Mirror, and Fargo fame. He plays the creepy neighbor, and he was able to make me laugh in every single scene he was in. His TV work has proven his dramatic chops, and I've never seen him attempt to be funny. It turns out, he's hysterical, and I seriously want to see him try more comedy.
The concept of Game Night is so smart and original, it's the catalyst that propels the movie forward. I was always waiting in eager anticipation to see what came next. The movie brought many twists and turns for its characters as the murder mystery got out of hand, and those twists are felt by the audience. I also loved how the houses looked like board game pieces in aerial shots. I cannot quite put my finger on what effects were used to accomplish this, but it was a great nod to the theme.The film is surprisingly well-shot for a comedy, and the choice to have the camera below the cars in chase scenes made for intense action scenes. Game Night was able to jump genres into action and mystery but never lost its comedic core. The shortcomings come in its need to be serious. Game Night's three couples each have a specific storyline and style of humor, which keeps it fresh. Yet the leads' story focuses on their inability to have a child, and the serious tone just does not fit in the movie, no matter how hard it tries to force it on the audience. When the film closes, it tries one last time to try to push this storyline, and the result is a horribly stereotyped ending not worthy of the film that preceded it.
Overall, Game Night is such an enjoyable movie. I imagine it'd be hard to dislike this movie. It's smart, funny, and fresh. Comedies are always hit or miss, and it has been a very long time since an R-rated comedy this funny has hit theaters. And the R rating is earned. No time is wasted on raunchy humor, and when the jokes go to that territory, they feel earned as they're few and far between. I highly recommend Game Night, and strongly urge you to check this one out!
Rating:
Game Night earns 7.5 stars
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