Add news
News Every Day |

‘Back in Action’ Review: Cameron Diaz And Jamie Foxx In Just Okay Spy Thriller

Although Hollywood is currently entangled in a torrid love affair with spy stories, not every tryst is going to satisfy. Back in Action, a long-anticipated Netflix espionage flick that marks Cameron Diaz’s return to the screen, makes its best effort, drawing on all sorts of genre cliches, but ultimately fails to land a conclusive punch. 


BACK IN ACTION ★★ (2/4 stars)
Directed by: Seth Gordon
Written by: Seth Gordon, Brendan O’Brien
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close
Running time: 93 mins.


The film comes courtesy of Seth Gordon, the filmmaker behind many good TV shows and several not-quite-so-successful movies, including Identity Thief and Baywatch. Gordon seemingly taps into his history in comedy for Back in Action, a thriller about two spies, Emily and Matt, who are forced to return to the game after retiring to start a family. Diaz and her co-star Jamie Foxx are genuinely charismatic, often delivering lines with a winking sarcasm and likeability. But Back in Action muddles its tone too much to be actually funny, a detriment to the cast’s best efforts. 

The film opens 15 years prior to the events of the film with a decent action set-piece as Emily and Matt infiltrate a party to steal a device known as the Key. They’re led over comms by their CIA handler Chuck (Kyle Chandler), who immediately spots that the pair have been sleeping together. The mission, of course, goes amiss, resulting in a horrific plane crash that somehow leaves Emily looking like she’s ready for Fashion Week. Instead of following protocol or retiring normally, the newly-pregnant Emily and Matt abscond from the wreckage and start a new life under false identities. 

Flash forward to the suburbs, where Emily is apparently now selling custom Etsy puzzles. The couple have two teenagers, Alice (McKenna Roberts) and Leo (Rylan Jackson), who they lie to about their past, often unconvincingly. Alice lies too, including about her whereabouts on a particular evening, which leads to Emily and Matt confronting her in a nightclub. Instead of simply leaving with their 14-year-old, totally under-age daughter, the duo somehow become involved in a brawl with a group of belligerent men. A video of the fight is broadcast to the Internet and soon the CIA, MI6 and the criminal gang they stole the Key from become aware the two spies might not be missing in action after all. 

The rest of plot, from Gordon and his co-writer (Brendan O’Brien), is convoluted. The family goes on the run to England, where Emily apparently hails from despite having an American accent and no British mannerisms. The kids discover that their parents have some serious fighting skills thanks to a showdown at a gas station and eventually they all wind up at the manor home of Emily’s mom Ginny (Glenn Close, who should hire a dialect coach next time she attempts an English accent) and her young boyfriend Nigel (Jamie Demetriou). Ginny was once a spy, too, and she’s now training the hapless Nigel in the espionage arts, which seems to include mastering throwing stars and acquiring bullet-proof umbrellas. There’s also a side story with M16 agent Baron (Andrew Scott, who hopefully got a good paycheck out of this) that is mostly unnecessary. 

Like every spy show and film onscreen these days, the climax heads to the center of London, setting the action along the Thames after one of the characters reveals themselves as the villain (gasp!). Even the kids bring their A-game to the fight, which takes place on a moving boat, and Nigel gets to see his training come to fruition. But does the Key do exactly and why does everyone want it? It’s unclear, although it does do some things during the movie, including turning the lights off in the London skyline. That part of the story feels lazily written, which is unfortunate since both Diaz and Foxx are delightful to watch as they punch, kick and shoot their way through these scenes. 

At moments, Back in Action feels like a fluid spy action movie. But in others, it can’t quite land on what sort of movie it is. It’s a story about a family coming together, but it’s not a family film. It has seemingly comedic moments, but it’s not that funny. Ultimately it’s a vehicle for two actors we really like and want to watch—a real reminder of how much Diaz is missed onscreen in her semi-retirement. They are both captivating, charming movie stars, but Diaz especially has the undeniable allure. It’s too bad her comeback isn’t in something better written, although it’s nice to see her regardless. Next time, skip the overwritten plot and give us the rom-com we deserve. 

‘Back In Action’ begins streaming on Netflix on January 17th. 

Москва

В гостях у Гастева, или зачем Суздалю Коллайдер

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Here’s more of what you’ll see through Meta’s $1,000 smart glasses

T-Mobile closes Lumos deal after dropping DEI

Hyundai’s Insteroid is an EV one-off for gamers

Will AI ever cure cancer? The multibillion-dollar race to bring the first AI-discovered drug to market

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "3 апреля 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "3 апреля 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "3 апреля 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

Topeka organization rallies for affordable housing

A por el último de EuroLeague en casa

I’ve spent years helping female founders access capital. Now that they have AI, they might not have to

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

T-Mobile closes Lumos deal after dropping DEI

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Tesla shares sink as deliveries miss forecasts by 'wide margin': report



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Надежда Петрова

Петрова презентует книгу «Теннис. Методические рекомендации» 5 апреля в Москве



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Калмыкия готова к проведению первого этапа Кубка России по ралли-рейду «Дикий тюльпан»



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Калмыкия готова к проведению первого этапа Кубка России по ралли-рейду «Дикий тюльпан»


Новости России

Game News

Call of Duty will finally let console players turn off crossplay to dodge PC cheaters, which is potentially terrible news for all the legit PC players


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Russian.city

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Блоги

Александр Буйнов приглашает на свой 75-летний юбилей


Губернаторы России
Евгений Петросян

Тайна имён. Что связывает наследников Петросяна с балетным миром


Контроллер внутри стены: новый смарт-дюбель fischer мониторит здоровье дома

Мошенники украли у пенсионера в Москве почти 2 миллиона рублей

НАТО СПОСОБНО НАНЕСТИ ЯДЕРНЫЙ УДАР ПО США И ЕВРОПЕ? НАТО СДЕЛАНО ДЛЯ ЭТОГО. СЕНСАЦИЯ! НОВОСТИ! СПЕЦOПЕРАЦИЯ "ЗИС". Россия, США, Европа могут улучшить отношения и здоровье общества?!

Рейтинг пяти лучших маркетинговых агентств: VICTORY GROUP занял первое место


Баста: из музыкальной школы Ростова-на-Дону – в столичные клубы

В Омске ДК «Шинник», где работал Егор Летов, выставили на продажу

Пол Мескал сыграет Пола Маккартни в фильме про The Beatles. Премьера состоится в апреле 2028 года

«Меня требовали посадить». Башмет рассказал о медальоне, который носит


«Это привилегия». Елена Рыбакина высказалась о том, что представляет Казахстан

Вероника Кудерметова одержала разгромную победу на старте турнира WTA-500 в Чарльстоне

Бухарест (ATP). 2-й круг. Гаске сыграет с Коболли, Баутиста-Агут – с Комесаньей, Баес – с Уго Карабелли

Анисимова победила Кудерметову в матче второго круга турнира в Чарльстоне


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Александр Буйнов приглашает на свой 75-летний юбилей

Контроллер внутри стены: новый смарт-дюбель fischer мониторит здоровье дома

Axenix и «КОРУС Консалтинг» объявили о стратегическом партнерстве для реализации проектов на платформе интегрированного планирования In.Plan

Рейтинг пяти лучших маркетинговых агентств: VICTORY GROUP занял первое место


Юрист Хаминский: экс-жена Уткина может претендовать на часть его наследства

Больше полетов на Хайнань, до 20 рейсов ежедневно в Москву: аэропорт Казани перешел на летнее расписание

За три месяца из Орловской области в регионы России отправлено более 300 тыс. тонн зерна и продуктов переработки

Концерт к 90-летию Красноярского края получил премию «Событие года»


Более 200 картин представят в рамках 47-го ММКФ

В первом квартале продажи ипотеки в России снизились на 42%

Пострадавших на заводе в Петрозаводске могут переправить в Москву

В гостях у Гастева, или зачем Суздалю Коллайдер


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Персональные новости Russian.city
Deep Purple

Deep Purple — Mandrake Root (French TV, 14th Nov, 1970)



News Every Day

Here’s more of what you’ll see through Meta’s $1,000 smart glasses




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости