GAME NIGHT

(l to r) Rachel McAdams, Lamorne Morris, Billy Magnussen, Jason Bateman and Kylie Bunbury.

GAME NIGHT

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I am reviewing this film because at least four of my cinema customers directly told me that they really loved this film.

It is a dark comedy produced by the same people who produced “Horrible Bosses.” I think what sets this film and the “Horrible Bosses” films apart is the added depth of content.

“Game Night” is about why Americans love and hate competition. The film shows us a group of friends, who get together once a week to play games.

It is about the one-ups-man-ship of constantly comparing yourself to others. It is about the constant striving to beat others. It is about sabotage. It is about an ego-based life taken to the extreme.

Jason Bateman, who was also in “Horrible Bosses,” plays Max. He stands out as the leader of this group of friends, who has an awakening, which is cradled in a lot of pain.

The entire cast ensemble is strong with many stand-out moments.

Rachel McAdams plays Max’s equally competitive and supportive wife, Annie, who catches herself, when she realizes that she is not being fully supportive.

Jesse Plemons plays Gary Kingsbury, their next door neighbor and a policeman, who is being excluded from the weekly games at a very vulnerable time in his life. Gary just lost his wife by way of divorce.

Plemons is both pathetic and endearing. When we get a look inside his home, we realize that he is one of those people, who puts others on a pedestal.

I enjoyed Billy Magnussen’s performance as friend, Ryan, who is not a couple, but rather, brings a different date every week.

Ryan’s friends criticize him for losing every week, because he brings dumb blond types with him. He responds that he does not need to win to feel good about himself.

One of Ryan’s dates, Madison (Natasha Hall), stood out for me. She is like Marilyn Monroe, because she is the only one you see, while she is there, even though she is supposed to be a minor character.

The truth is that Natasha Hall is a real brainiac. Her filmography includes credits for writing, directing and producing, not just acting.

I also loved “Game Night.” It is definitely going to be part of my DVD collection classics.