My rating: 5/10. A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves trying to solve a murder mystery. Horrible Bosses was a pretty funny movie and it had some originality to it which kept the viewer on his toes. The same people made this film and it’s a fun night out at the movies but not what it could have been or at least, what I expected from the marketing.
Game Night (2018)
R | 1h 40min | Comedy, Crime, Mystery | 23 February 2018 (USA)
A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves trying to solve a murder mystery.
Directors: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Writer: Mark Perez
Stars: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler
John Francis Daley was a co-director. You may know him from the cult hit show “Freaks and Geeks.” Alongside Daley is co-director Jonathan Goldstein who is known as writer of “Horrible Bosses.” I’m not sure the writing was aligned with the vision here. The Direction os good and in many places the writing does work. unfortunately it’s too unbelievable at times.he
Speaking of the neighbor cop Gary, played by Jess Plemons, this character is the relief for all the suffering you may encounter watching the film. He is quick witted and he has great lines written for him. He’s a young cop whose wife has left him. s a result he has no friends and is always trying to pout his way into Game Night. When Jason Bateman has a use for him police computer, they trick him into having date night at his house. The story works in a small way but fails on so many levels with me.
I think the title was cashing in on the gimmick of “Date Night” which was a funny movie with a well crafted plot. In this we have a “Game Night” that goes awry in a similar way that Steve Carell and Tina Fey experience. The big difference is that it’s now Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams and the plot is disconnected at best, illogical at worst. “Date Night” is a much better film. I recommend seeing it. The writing it more gritty and the comedy keeps you wanting more. It is also a story of suburban people getting caught on the dark side of the city. The results are truly hilarious and the more is believable.
There’s a needy divorcee next door, a smuggler brother, a really mismatched couple, and a black couple. I’m sorry to say none of these characters are very developed. In the same breath, I will say that this is a pretty good option if you want a background movie that doesn’t require much thought. The only thought I had was “Why did I come here and when will this be over.” I know a lot of you will like it so I’m holding. You won’t miss anything in my opinion if you miss this film. I give it a 5/10
“A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early.” -IMDB
Escalante gets a group of hispanic kids all fired up to take the AP calculus test. This surprises everyone in the film because up to now, the school has been one of the most underperforming in the country. Escalante petitions to the school board to get his students to take it and in spite of some people disagreeing, he gets permission. The kids do finally take the test and at that point, the worst of all worst things happens: the state comes out to investigate possible cheating. As if it wasn’t enough for these kids to work so hard, now they get accused of doing an immoral thing. They have to take the test again to exonerate themselves.
All along the way, Escalante is reaching out to his students: showing them a finder trick to learn their 9’s in multiplication, dining at their parents’ restaurants trying to get buy-in on them going to college, and things like that. He is not a normal educator but rather a “super” one. I think it would be foolish for me to try and be like him, he’s an individual with a specific skill set of gifts. I on the other hand, have my own bag of tricks when it comes to classroom management and student achievement. Even those who are not teachers will find this film entertaining. Everyone has been in that student chair right? It is relatable from both sides and it clearly shows the benefits of having a common goal and never backing down.
Lou Diamond Phillips plays on of the hoodlum gang types that gets drawn in by Escalante’s teaching style. There is a great scene where Phillips’ character and a few hoodlum types steal his car and then fix it up in their chop shop. They make his old VW into a tricked out show car. It’s a great scene because is really shows how much he means to these kids now, after proving himself a conscientious and caring teacher.
I love another scene where Andy Garcia comes in from the test company to investigate the possibility of cheating. Phillip’s character jokes with him faking him out that they cheated. Then he springs a punchline insulting Garcia. There is another scene where Garcia throws a fit saying he is a Mexican and he understands the pressures. They are basically accusing him of not being sensitive to the Mexican people. It’s one of his more irate scenes I’ve seen him play. He does and excellent job.
The movie is like a racing film in that there is a goal and despite tons of setbacks, the race ensues until the end where the elusive prize is won. For anyone starting school, college, a new challenging endeavor of any kind (but academic would probably receive the most benefit) this is an excellent motivation tool and source of inspiration. As a teacher, this is one of my favorite films but it ranks up there with any other movie I love. I’d put it in my top 10. So if you’ve never seen this “based on a true story” film, I highly recommend it to you. It has something for everyone and it affects you in a very banal way. If you don’t walk away after watching this in a more positive mindset, I think you need to rewind it and watch it again, you probably weren’t paying attention ese.
DAMIEN RILEY | World Music | HQ Blog 
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