Co-directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, Game Night is a comedy-kidnap-caper film starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as happy-go-lucky married couple Max and Annie Davis. The Davis’s met at a local tavern’s game night and have been inseparable since. They are looking to become parents, but there is something “wrong” with Max’s sperm that the doctor is quick to pin on stress. The stress in their lives revolves around the unexpected visit of Max’s older brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler). Max is supposedly super wealthy, super charming, and super good at games of all types.
Buy Game Night 4K UHDThere is a game night every week at the Davis house, and the next-door neighbor, police officer Gary Kingsbury (Jesse Plemons in yet another perfect role for his hilarious expressions and delivery) wants to be invited to all of them. However, since his wife left him, and since he leans a bit toward crazy, the Davis’s do their best to keep Kingsbury out of their lives to limited success.
When Brooks comes over for game night, he is sporting a new Corvette – Max’s dream car – and a ridiculously bright smile that is slightly disarming but filled with charm. Max has never won a game against his brother, and is not accustomed to losing, but the rest of his friends think Brooks is the cat’s meow. In fact, Brooks charmingly invites them all to his brand new mansion for a special game night next week.
Brooks has a surprise planned for game night. He has hired professional actors to conduct an interactive murder mystery. Joining the Davis’s and Brooks are Max and Annie’s married friends Kevin (Lamorne Morris) and Michelle (Kylie Bunbury) who are having a bit of an argument because Kevin has just discovered that Michelle may have slept with a celebrity while the two took a break in their relationship years ago. Ryan (Billy Magnussen) is a playboy who believes he has brought a ringer, Sarah (Sharon Horgan), as his date.
When the murder mystery begins, the audience is quickly aware that something isn’t right, that people might actually be getting hurt, even dying. Thankfully, the characters are intelligent and don’t flounder in the dark very long before understanding their dire predicament. This is one of those lucky projects where story and cast combine to create a stand-out film. Bateman and Adams are a strong anchor to a great cast. Jesse Plemons is hilarious as the creepy neighbor, and Billy Magnussen constantly comes off as the goofy friend you love to have around. The bonus features are few and short. The movie, however, is delightful.
Bonus Features:
- An Unforgettable Evening: The Making of Game Night
- Gag Reel
