The Game: Review of Game Night

Game Night

Directors: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein

By Alex Watson

Thanks in part to a sharp script and spot-on cast, Game Night is a movie that satisfies on belly laughs alone. The chemistry between leads Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman gives this movie its comedic charm. Horrible Bosses writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein make a surprisingly effective team. While the story might be a tad predictable, there is much to like in this effort.

Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) love nothing more than hosting and winning game nights. However, their mood soon sours when Max's older and vastly more successful brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) comes to town. When they allow big brother to host game night, he promises it will be on they never forget. When gun touting thugs burst in and kidnapping, the couple soon realises they are playing the most dangerous game of all.

Game Night appeals in droves early on, starting with the typical (and adorable) meet-cute when Max and Annie meet ironically during a game night. Despite being able to thrash their friends (Billy Magnussen, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury), their hopes to start are a proper family are being thwarted by their mixed opinions about having a child. To make matters worse, Brooks is in town and as one member describes he is like "The Mark Wahlberg to his Donnie!" Vastly successful and always winning against his brother, Brooks decides to one-up game night by staging a murder mystery. When criminals suddenly burst in a take him, the indifference the gang reacts with is truly hilarious. Credit to both Daley and Goldstein, for the majority of the film they do a go job of blurring the lines between real and fake when it comes to this kidnapping.

Once the group realizes how raised the stakes are, the twists keep coming and they are more and extreme each time. The standout scene sees Annie attempting to take a bullet of her husband's arm while using rubber gloves and tweezers. The fact she could only find him a squeaky toy hamburger to bite down on only adds to the hilarity. The supporting cast is also well served during this story with Kevin (Morris) determined to find out which celebrity his wife (Bunbury) bedded while they were 'on a break', the reveal afterwards provides an underrated source of laughs. Ryan (Magnussen) is the group's good looking dimwit who begins to become attracted to straight talking Linda (Sharon Horgan). There's also looming question of precisely how real are all of these events? Brooks remains an ambiguous character throughout and Daley and Goldstein are sly when it comes to their clues.

If there is one criticism to give Game Night it is that the final act is where the picture momentarily loses steam. The directing duo, for the most part, is great at keeping the laughs coming but when it comes to the big twist- it feels slightly obvious and this makes us feel let down. While this picture isn't ever going to be considered groundbreaking, you feel it has enough smarts to avoid the typical story traps. The final act is well-staged and brilliantly executed, especially they are forced to fit into a bizarre party held a wealthy criminal (Danny Huston). There is also the added bonus of having Jesse Plemon's extremely awkward and watchful cop Gary hovering by- a man desperate to join game night but creeping out all in return.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are a wonderfully matched pair. Bateman's makes the use of his typical dry wit and likeable everyman charm. Although she's a tried and tested dramatic actress, you forget just what an appealing comedic lead McAdam really is. Here her and Bateman make for a believable and extremely cute pairing which makes the film excel. Kyle Chandler is also excellent as the unbearable Brooks- on the surface, he has all a man (and Max) could want and more. Chandler shows a different and more desperate side later on but somehow retains a magnetism to this character that still draws us to him.

Game Night is a comedy to just sit back and enjoy- though consider yourselves warned if your brother ever hosts a night like this one.

Animal Farm: Review of Zootopia

Zootopia

Directors: Brian Howard and Rich Moore

By Alex Watson

A story that only Disney could have brought to life, Zootopia is a the kind of fun experience we only get once a year. Setting the story in a world where animals reign supreme free of human interaction is more than just a novelty effect. Directors Howard and Moore have the cute factor pinned down easily, but it is a thoughtful piece about problems that can arise from having predator and prey co-existing. This is a Disney movie with a big heart and an animal instinct.

Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is a small town rabbit who dreams of becoming a police officer. Overcoming the pessimism about her dreams, Judy does achieve her goals and becomes the first ever rabbit police officer. When she reaches the city she realizes that things will be tougher than she could ever imagine. 14 animals have been captured in recent weeks and Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) is keen to have them solved. When Judy begins to investigate, she gets the help of con artist fox Nick Wild (Jason Bateman) who she has previously encountered.

Wonderfully both Howard and Moore don't allow Zootopia to completely revolve around its central concept and focus mainly on the central duo of Judy and Nick. Funny and smart from the very beginning and its animation is a glorious experience. Having the animals walk and talk like humans is a neat touch, as well is have the city is divided into different sectors such as tiny Little Rodentia.  There is also a wonderfully silly feel and co-writes Jared Bush and Phil Johnson have a ball with creating a variety of zany moments. From a painfully realistic DMW run entirely by sloths to a rodent mafia boss, there are laughs to be found everywhere.

Ever since childhood, Judy's less than enthusiastic have trodden on her dreams and encourage like her parents to farm carrots. Through some sheer pluckiness, Judy manages to prove the doubters wrong. When she arrives in Zootopia, Judy is immediately by grumpy buffalo Chief Bogo. The reality of her struggle sets in and she begins to lose hope. Meeting Nick is, at first, a heartbreaking experience for her because due to his trickster nature he turns what a kind act into something horrific. Constantly mocking and second guessing Judy, enlisting his help is a risk as foxes are mistrusted heavily. Together this unlikely pair works likes a charm and as they begin to work together a genuinely sweet and trusting friendship is born.

What is smart about Zootopia is the issues it tackles underneath such as racism and stereotyping. Predators and prey have existed peacefully for a long period of time but there is still an air of mistrust hanging in the air. Nick himself has become a con man due to some horrific prejudice growing up while Judy is pigeonholed as the typical 'cute bunny' by her co-workers. These heavy tones are handled with care and by subtly sliding them into the plot it makes the central mystery all the more stronger. Without giving too much away, the big reveal close to the end is thought provoking one and makes us think twice about this animal kingdom Disney has created.

The voice pairing of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman is a dream and together they are movies core. Goodwin makes good use of the saccharine likeability of Judy but also gives her a hard shell that protects her from the blows of the world. Bateman makes good use of Nick and makes him into the most slippery friend/nemesis you could wish to have. The perfect flavor of sugar and spice, the pair makes this journey through this amazing world even more memorable. Idris Elba also raises a laugh as the continually soured faced Bogo, especially when secretly playing the app created by singer Gazelle (voiced by Shakira).

One of 2016's most worthwhile experiences and Disney has created something truly special. Sporting some stunning CGI and address some important points, few animated movies this year will match this.