Game Night (2018)

"Game Night" is among my favorite comedies to come out over the past few years. This high concept laugh-riot benefits from a creative script, fantastic visual direction and a wonderful cast.

Max and Annie are a competitive couple who bonded over their love of gaming and trivia, and host a weekly "game night" with their friends. However, things take an interesting turn when Max's wealthy and successful brother Brooks is really kidnapped during a murder-mystery-style role-playing game. Convinced his disappearance is all "part of the game," the group sets out to solve the mystery... only to get pulled into a real-life conflict and a life-or-death adventure.

The writing is top-notch for such a silly film. The story is fun and fluid, with a great sense of pace and some clever and subversive twists to keep you on your toes. It's also just really darned funny - there are tons of laughs to be had with the film. Writer Mark Perez does a wonderful job with the material. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

I also absolutely adore the direction courtesy John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. There are so many fun and engaging sequences, and some really creative choices being made. They also load the film with references to gaming at large - for example, fantastic establishing shots utilizing the "tilt-shift" photographic technique that makes them look like miniatures on a game board. Or a chase scene utilizing mounted camera angles similar to a racing video-game. It's very well-done.

And the cast is just wonderful. I've always been a fan of lead star Jason Bateman, and he's as charming and likable as ever. I also gotta give special commendation to Rachel McAdams, who is adorable - and hilarious - as Annie. I was very pleasantly surprised by her comedic chops. But I gotta give the biggest shout-out to Jesse Plemons in a small but memorable supporting role as Max and Annie's creepy neighbor Gary. He supplies some of the film's biggest belly-laughs.

If you're looking for a clever comedy, I absolutely have to give "Game Night" my highest recommendation. It's hilarious. It's very well made. And it's just plain fun. I can't help but give it a 5. It's quickly become a new favorite, and a movie-night go to for me.

TedStixon