Run Time: 105
Minutes
I
have good news and bad news. The bad news is there is no good news. This film
is a prime example that you cannot trust trailers that are shown for
promotional purposes. It begins with a house explosion that while spectacular
is nothing more than a tease. Granted this is not billed as an action film, but
the fact that there were a few wild scenes peppered in left me wondering why director
Greg Mottola was expanding his horizons from directing and producing TV movies
and series. Clearly it was a mistake.
When
a suburban couple becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot they
discover that their seemingly perfect new neighbors are government spies. While
I did find the premise interesting to a point, I felt the presentation lacked
in believability. Sudden scene changes left me feeling dizzy and unable to
follow. Writer/producer Michael LeSieur form the TV Series Glory Days appears to lose focus on where the plot should go and
when. What you end up with is scenes that are placed almost randomly.
Zach
Galifianakis plays Jeff Gaffney, a very ordinary non-achieving husband loved by
his understanding and but mundane wife Karen played by Isla Fisher (The Brothers Grimsby). The chemistry
that ensues was obviously born by a mad scientist, as the banter seems to be
thrown together like a puzzle where the pieces don’t fit. I blame this on the
casting of Galifianakis. His memorable humor displayed in (Hangover 1 and 2) was too much for this caliber of film. I found it
awkward here.
If
there was any positive point, it had to be the portrayal of the neighborhood
spies and their introduction into the plot. As Darrell, Jon Hamm brings the
well played demeanor of Tim Jones. His voluptuous but deadly wife Natalie (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) reprises the similar role she
played as Diana Prince / Wonder Woman. This I thought at least gave the action merit.
Lastly
there was the ending which I will admit I enjoyed, but didn’t happen soon
enough. When the Joneses identity is also discovered by foreign powers, through
a twist of fate, they team up with the Gaffney’s and wild action scenes
involving chases, bullets flying and explosions ensue. What follows however is
stereotypical and therefore predictable.
This
was the longest 105 minutes I have spent in a theater.
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