Any movie directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein — who helmed the poorly reviewed “Vacation” — should be approached with caution. But thanks to a cast that includes Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Lamorne Morris, Jesse Plemons, and Kyle Chandler, “Game Night” might just earn the benefit of the doubt.
The movie seems like it could wind up being a “Date Night” rehash with McAdams and Bateman standing in for Tina Fey and Steve Carrell — which, to be honest, would be far from terrible. The story revolves a couple’s weekly game night that — you guessed it — gets way out of hand. Here’s the official synopsis:
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Bateman and McAdams star as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s charismatic brother, Brooks (Chandler), arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents. So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it’s all part of the game…right? But as the six uber-competitive gamers set out to solve the case and win, they begin to discover that neither this “game”—nor Brooks—are what they seem to be. Over the course of one chaotic night, the friends find themselves increasingly in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn. With no rules, no points, and no idea who all the players are, this could turn out to be the most fun they’ve ever had…or game over.
Hopefully, the film won’t waste McAdams. It’s been a decade of on-and-off success for the gifted actress, who was cruelly squandered in “Doctor Strange,” but received an overdue Oscar nomination for “Spotlight,” and is one of the stars of Sebastián Lelio‘s forthcoming “Disobedience” (plus, she was one of the best parts of Terrence Malick‘s little-seen gem “To the Wonder”). Here’s hoping “Game Night” allows her to be more than just Bateman’s comedic accomplice. The film opens on March 2, 2018.