Game Night

What if you planned a game night and it goes nothing like you expected?

Game Night had an early Digital release on May 4. The Blu-ray combo pack and DVD debuts on May 22.

GAMES 

Game Night gets promoted as ‘Certified Fresh.’ It received a Tomatometer mark at 82%. (The explanation of the Rotten Tomatoes ratings are with Paddington 2.)

The box office stats for Game Night were reasonable for a February release. It cemented about $68 million for domestic and a worldwide total over $116 million. This includes the fact - this R-rated film - was up against the blockbuster known as Black Panther.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are the directors. Mark Penz wrote the script. This is only the second film at the helm for the directors. The Vacation reboot of the Griswald family disappeared quick.

Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams) host a weekly game night with their friends. Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury play the friends. Jesse Plemons pops up as an unusual neighbour of Max and Annie’s.

When Max’s brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), comes to town, he decides he wants to host his own game night. The idea is for a murder-mystery style event. This is complete with pretend thugs, federal agents and a kidnapping.

When the game is actually afoot though, how much of it is actually fake?

VERDICT

Would I buy this film? Not a full price. It’s more of a rainy day selection.

I enjoyed Game Night more than Father Figures. For a comedy, I didn’t find it funny. (I’m aware there will be viewers who will say the film is hilarious.) The points balance out for the ensemble cast and for the darker side of the story.

It is R-rated for a reason. It’s crude at times, has bursts of violence and coarse language throughout. It’s not a big spoiler to say the ‘pretend’ Game Night turns real for the players. (It’s revealed in all commercials and trailers.)

But.

I never figured out how the 100-minute film was going to end. Sure, the events get a little over-the-top, but there were also a couple twists which caught me by surprise. Being surprised by a movie is always a good thing in my books.

It takes some time - maybe an unusually long time - for the cast to figure out there is more going on to their game night. The ensemble do seem to be enjoying working together, even with the more thriller aspects of the film.

Jason Bateman appears to be a pro at these kinds of movies. I haven’t seen many Rachel McAdams films, but what I have, always leans towards the dramatic. It's not the case here. She does a pretty good job too. Even Lamorne Morris, has a cool Denzel Washington impression.

There is an elaborate game of ‘Hot potato’ which is completed in one shot. (Meaning the take is done with one camera and no cuts.)

Game Night is not a movie I would rush out to watch. It surprised me though. It makes an impression that way. (Some may even find it funny.)

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

An Unforgettable Evening: Making Game Night (3 minutes, 48 seconds) 

- A pretty basic behind-the-scenes feature. The cast explains the movie and what it was like working with each other and on the film.

Gag Reel (6 minutes, 48 seconds) 

- It depends on your sense of humour. There are better gag reels. 

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment