Game Night

It’s hard to find a good comedy now a-days; especially because most of the comedic films coming out now are all based around a big party, it seems to be the only place where laughs can be garnered. However, the wonderfully witty Game Night proves that there is still some originality out there.

Game Night is a story of a group of friends (helmed by the couple played by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams) who have their usual game night upturned when they play a live-action kidnap mystery. The problem is, that their game might be mixed with a real-life kidnap mystery.

The film’s pitch sounds like a complete drab, but the writing for this film is incredible. The humor is witty and smart and doesn’t rely on any sex or bathroom jokes (I’d pay someone to find a comedy in the last five years that doesn’t rely on them), the running gags were hilarious, and the actual storyline is intriguing. There were even some moments of emotion in the final phases of the film, something no one going into this movie was expecting. The film smartly starts off with believable character actions, and slowly, but smoothly, builds it up to a ridiculous and twisty finale, something, however, that falls into a more generic side of action-comedies.

The overall film is a very fun time, the main movie stars in the film are funny enough, but I was more taken by the unknown actors playing the other couples (Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, and Kylie Bunbury), there’s also a fabulous Jesse Plemmons in a smaller role.

It would be an encouraging sign to see this film do well at the box-office, however, its opening weekend was underwhelming. You can’t help but wonder that studios might take this as a sign that originality doesn’t sell, so for the sake of laughs and the comedic genre, go see Game Night, you won’t regret it.

7.9/10