Game Night (2018)

The neighborhood shots in Game Night are filmed to look like tiny plastic game boards, nobody in the movie ever mentions it, and that’s the kind of quiet joke it’s full of. The weak spot is the final act, which stacks twist on twist until the plot wobbles like a bad Jenga tower. Jason Bateman does his usual tightly wound guy, and Rachel McAdams is the surprise: she’s the funniest person on screen, treating a real kidnapping like the best party game ever. Jesse Plemons steals the movie as Gary, the cop next door who talks in a flat whisper and holds his dog like a baby. Every scene with him is legit unsettling and very funny. The chase through a mansion, with everyone tossing a priceless egg around, beats most action movies. It made $122.8 million worldwide on a reported $37M. A 7.6 because it’s sharper and better shot than a studio comedy has any right to be. $12.78 says you plan your next game night and pause one guilty second before leaving the neighbor off the list.

What works: Rachel McAdams and Jesse Plemons are hilarious in totally different keys, and the mansion chase is staged to look like one unbroken take.

What doesn’t: The final act stacks double-crosses until nothing feels real anymore, and Jason Bateman’s uptight routine is one we’ve seen plenty.

Who it’s for: Friend groups who take board games way too seriously and know exactly which one of them is Ryan.