For all involved, game nights aspire to be an evening filled with friendly rivalry, lots of laughs and perhaps some suspense thrown in as victory is battled over in the heat of competition. All that could easily also describe Game Night—starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as a couple who host the titular events and bring their own share of competitiveness to even a game of Go Fish!
Game Night is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital download formats. The film was a surprise hit this past winter and one of the rare comedies that didn’t reveal its most hilarious highlights in the trailer.
Bateman and McAdams are Max and Annie. The two met at a bar trivia night as opposing players. Their attraction was as heated as the fierceness of their fight to win at, well, everything. The film teases that meeting and then quickly leaps to the present where the couple have become the anchor of an entire group of friends who gather every few weeks to tackle numerous party competitions, such as charades, trivia pursuit and basically anything that produces a winner and losers.
When Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) returns to their hometown for a visit on the titular evening, the younger sibling has mixed feelings about it. See, competition must run in the blood of this clan because Max does not to lose to Brooks, and we gather that it happens often. Brooks is welcomed home by the entire gang and by the end of that first evening back, he announces that he’s going to be around for a while and that Game Night should be at his house next time. Despite Max’s objections, the group endorses the idea. As Brooks leaves, he promises everyone that it will be a Game Night for the ages. And yes, it is… since it commences and appears to be a kidnapping/murder mystery game. People break into the house, take Brooks hostage and it is supposed to be all part of this soon-to-be epic evening. Someone even shows up after the kidnapping with a “dossier” for everyone to follow that lays out the clues.
The thing is, all this appears all-too real. Is it? Has Brooks outdone his brother yet again, or is his often in trouble self pissed off someone who is not a soul who should be ruffled?
This is a comedy that works, and yes, those are rare. It is largely due to the strength of the ensemble and the writing of Mark Perez and direction of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Horrible Bosses). Each character is given multiple moments to shine and a three-dimensional persona that enriches the entire cinematic experience.
Lamorne Morris (New Girl) is terrific as the husband who learns more about his wife than he ever wanted or needed to during a—you guessed it—game. It is something that will haunt him throughout the film and that is to the audiences’ hilarious benefit. Kylie Bunbury is his wife and the two of them are a gem who simultaneously grab our attention when it’s their time to shine and also know to support the narrative that drives the entire tale.
Billy Magnussen has a blast as Ryan. He plays clueless with a heart of gold like nobody’s business. Over several of these nights that we experience in the film, he brings different dates. Clearly, the man is a player when it comes to the opposite sex and not necessarily the best player in the actual games that are played! But, during this fateful Game Night at Brooks’ house, he brings Sarah (Sharon Hogan). Her addition—both on screen and the gifts that the actress who plays her brings to the affair—is utter brilliance.
McAdams and Bateman are their usually awesome selves. The latter does this schtick better than anyone and we could witness him in roles such as this over and over for years to come. It’s nice to see McAdams dive into a comedy and let’s just say her slapstick skills and straight-woman aptitude are beyond brilliant. She needs to do more comedies!
If there is anyone who “steals” the show, it is Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad). He portrays a local cop who lives next door to Max and Annie. He used to be a regular at these game nights, but since he and his wife divorced, Gary has been rather dark, gloomy and not necessarily someone you want invited to an evening that is supposed to be light and fun. Every scene Plemons is in is made better by his mere presence. He is also integral to the plot of the film and that is a very good thing as his pitch-perfect perfection is palpable.
When it comes to bonus features, there really is not much and that is a wee bit disappointing. An Unforgettable Evening: Making Game Night delves into the making of the comedic hit. It is enjoyable, but at not even four minutes, it is far too short, and we are left wanting more—much, much more.
The other bonus feature is one that is hardly a surprise, given that this is a comedy, is the Gag Reel. With so many utterly fall-out-of-your-chair hilarious moments there are in the film, it is not surprising that so many takes were ruined by the actors cracking each other up. And thanks to this featurette, we get to join in on the hilarity as well.
Film Grade: B
Bonus Features: C