"Game Night" is Hilarious Beyond Expectation! Also this week: "Peter Rabbit" and Netflix's "Mudbound"

 
   Every now and then, a movie comes along that simply and unabashedly surprises you. When this happens, your perceived expectations fly out the window and you are left to absorb an experience you had no idea existed. That was my experience with this weekend's new comedy Game Night. Upon first viewing the trailer for this film, I expected a fairly straight-forward, paint-by-numbers comedy that would double down on unsuccessful, reoccurring jokes, with a bland and hollow story. Well, never judge a book by its cover, people. Game Night has the proper mixture of a great cast, clever writing, insane comic timing, and surprising moments that make for a delicious night out to the movies. I laughed so hard and so much watching this movie that I was genuinely taken back, and equally full of joy. I'll say it off the top: this movie is a win across the board.

   The story is fairly simple. Max and Annie (played by Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams) are game fanatics. Every week they host a game night with their friends (played by Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Sharon Horgan, and Billy Magnussen) where they enjoy the camaraderie that comes from friendly competition. When Max's brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) comes to town, the normalcy of game night is turned upside down. The group finds themselves trying to solve a murder mystery that appears to be much more real than they had anticipated. Cue the craziness. The concept of the story is silly, but it offers a breeding ground of hilarious moments to ensue. As the couples race to figure out the mystery, the growing realization that the game they are playing is less than a game is really genuine and hysterical. With any great comedy, the writing and execution needs to be spot on. With a cast like this one it's hard to go wrong. The story offers moments for every character to have their moment to shine, and it never really beats you over the head with a joke. The story keeps you on your toes while delivering more laughs than you can handle.

 
   There is one character in particular that completely stole the movie for me, and that would be Gary, Max and Annie's neighbor. Gary is a divorced cop who lives alone with his dog. He is creepily cringe-worthy with a borderline-serial-killer deadpan-ness that will leave you squirming in your seat and laughing at the same time. Jesse Plemons plays Gary and he gives an outstanding performance. I couldn't peel my eyes away when he was on screen because I just had to know what he would say or do next. At the same time, I was cringing in my seat because he oozes with awkwardness from every pore. Some of the biggest laughs came when Gary was around, and I wanted more of this guy after every moment he appeared. There are some twists and turns with the story and it always seems like Gary is going to pop up at any moment. Then, he doesn't, and you're disappointed. Only BAM! There he is, right when you least expect it! The movie overall is hilarious, but I have a feeling that everyone who sees it will remember Gary first and foremost.

   I think the great thing about this movie that you don't see with a lot of other comedies is that it's very self-aware. There are subtle moments where the movie pokes fun at typical tropes of a comedy by either setting up the trope and immediately moving away from it, or literally calling it out on the floor. I've been wracking my brain for an example to give that wouldn't be too spoilery, but I can't seem to think of one. Imagine the type of self-awareness that was present throughout Deadpool, only tame it down drastically and take out the fourth-wall-breaks, and you'll get the idea...hopefully. At any rate, I have to hand it to the writer Mark Perez and the film's co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein for being ballsy enough to play with the medium the way they do. I absolutely loved Game Night. It's a hilarious romp that is well worth your dollar.

   

  If you're looking for something that is funny, but is a bit more accessible for your kids, then check out Peter Rabbit. I had a chance this week to finally check this movie out, and for all of its cheesiness, I had a good time with it. It's been getting a ton of positive buzz and I'd heard nothing but good about it, so I figured it was high time to see for myself. I remember reading the books when I was a kid, following Peter and his sisters as they battle their neighbor in order to get food from his garden. The movie captures the spirit of the books brilliantly. Peter is mischievous, and his portrayal here is just that...with a bit of cockiness sprinkled in. James Corden brings his overabundant charm to the floppy-eared hero and does a decent enough job. The movie is silly when it needs to be and allows for some emotional drama to seep in between the laughs and hijinks. The dynamic between Rose Byrne (a friendly painter who loves the rabbits) and Domhnall Gleeson (the new neighbor hell-bent on exterminating the wildlife) was warm and sappy enough. I don't really know what else to say other than this movie is exactly what you would expect from a family film. Its wholesome message is wrapped in a blanket of comedy and silliness that will ultimately make for a smile-inducing experience.

    

    Wrapping up for this week, I finally sat down and watched the Netflix original film Mudbound. While on my Oscar run, this movie made the list simply because it's nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Original Song, and the main reason for my viewing: Mary J. Blige's nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. The movie has multiple narrative threads that weave in and out of each other until they ultimately combine into one. At the forefront of all of these threads is the story of two men (Garrett Hedlund and Jason Mitchell) who return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war. Across the board the acting in this film is top notch. Mary J. Blige plays Florence Jackson, mother of Ronsel Jackson (Mitchell), and I agree that she delivers a really great performance. Oscar-worthy? I'm not too sure. When she's on screen she is really captivating, but her screen time is limited in comparison to others, and there are moments in her performance that sometimes come across as a bit over the top or forced. That doesn't mean I wasn't riveted by it. She was nominated, and I tip my hat to her. The film as a whole is a powerful piece of storytelling that deals with a lot of themes that are surprisingly relevant today. I would say that Mudbound is an 'experience' and should be treated as such. It's emotionally engaging with beautiful cinematography and wonderful direction. I highly recommend seeing it. It's not a popcorn flick by any means, and it deals with issues that are controversial in nature, so being in the right frame of mind would be best when approaching this movie. Come Oscar time, it'll be interesting to see how Blige shapes up against the competition.