Now Playing

Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

Game Night
Starring: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Sharon Horgan, Billy Magnussen, LaMorne Morris, Kyle Bunbury, and Jesse Plemmons
Synopsis: What do you like to do when you get together with friends? Some have dinner and chat. Some go on activities. And others like to have a fun, competitive game night. But at those game nights, there's usually always that one couple that takes it a little too seriously, and for whom winning means a little too much. That's the case with Max (Bateman) and Annie (McAdams), in fact it was their shared competitive nature and need to win that first brought them together. And it's why the weekly game night with friends is the focal point of their lives. Of course, for Max, it all started years earlier as a rivalry with his brother, Brooks (Chandler). When Brooks turns back up and wants to host a special game night himself, Max is determined to win to help get his mojo flowing as he looks to start a family. And what at first appears to be part of a special murder mystery set up by Brooks turns out to be something else, pulling Max, Annie and all their friends into a wild night they'll never forget. Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the people who brought "Vacation" to life a few summers ago, are back with this comedy. And it's one that works in a lot of the same fun, outlandish ways. That's also thanks to some great performances. Bateman and McAdams have a breezy chemistry together that works well as the anchor, and Chandler does a nice job as Brooks. But perhaps the best performance comes from Plemmons, who stars as cop neighbor Gary, a creepy loner who's desperate to get back into the "in" crowd at game night. He ends up having a lot of hidden layers, and is a scene stealer whenever he appears. The script from Mark Perez ("Accepted," "Herbie Fully Loaded") works well, too, with a couple of twists that add depth to this story. "Game Night" isn't deep or complex, but it stays in its lane and it's a lot of fun, much like Daley and Goldstein's first feature film. If you're a fan of this type of story, "Game Night" will be a nice time at the movies.
Rating:  R for language, sexual references and some violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, March 2 - "Death Wish," "Red Sparrow"
Friday, March 9 - "A Wrinkle in Time," "The Strangers: Prey at Night," "Gringo," "The Hurricane Heist"
Friday, March 16 - "Tomb Raider," "Love, Simon," "Flower"
Friday, March 23 - "Pacific Rim: Uprising," "Midnight Sun," "Sherlock Gnomes," "Isle of Dogs," "Unsane"
Thursday, March 29 - "Ready Player One"
Friday, March 30 - "Acrimony"