At first glance, you’d think that this Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams starrer is just another R-rated comedy that would probably have a lackluster performance at the box office with less than stellar reviews, but it pulled off quite a surprise!

Apparently, Game Night earned a respectable $117.1 million in the box office with its $37 million budget. And critics are loving it to boot!

Plot

Game Night revolves around middle-class couple Max and Annie, portrayed by James Bateman and Rachel McAdams, respectively. The highlight of their married life is the weekly game night with other married couples.

This game night takes an exciting, albeit thrilling, turn when Max’s brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler) drops in on them and decides to invite them over to his house for a more immersive game night. The live-action role-play game night involves someone being kidnapped and the rest of the couples finding out how to rescue the kidnapped person.

There is no complicated, mind-boggling plot that ensues, but this kidnapping plot is enough to keep the story going and the laughs coming with some thrilling scenes in between.

Review

With so many comedy films disappointing audiences with its poor plot, low budget, and recycled laughs, it seems that Game Night was treading in those very same footsteps at first glance. Heck, the title itself was a continuation of the some-kind-of-Night trend of late, but lo and behold, it was quite entertaining, providing good laughs with enough of a suspense to have you look forward to the mysterious kidnapping that is the center plot of the movie.

During its release, word of mouth got around that Game Night was not your typical comedy movie. It caught the moviegoers’ attention with its intelligent and dynamic cast performances. There’s power duo Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams who actually play the married couple effectively you’d actually think they actually are. But, it’s Jesse Plemons with his awesome impersonation of Michael Shannon, which borders on the creepy, who’s definitely a standout. It helps that the entire cast’s comedic styles all come together nicely.

The fact that Game Night is steering away from the usual comedic tropes has also received positive feedback.  In general, the entire film doesn’t adhere to the common comedic formula thanks to the overhaul that Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley did on the entire script.

Rated R18 for language and violence, the bottom line is that Game Night actually, really works for that fun Friday night movie time!

Rachel McAdams has been consistently making great films. This year, she also stars in Disobedience opposite Rachel Weisz. Check it out!

Disobedience is finally out and critics are praising it, calling attention to Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams eloquent performances, capturing the nuances of their respective characters. Critics call it a beautiful story of love, personal truth, and emotional contentment.

[WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD]

One of the most talked about scenes that left a mark on both critics and audiences alike was the love scene of the two Rachels with emphasis on the moment Rachel Weisz spits into Rachel McAdams’ mouth. While critics have weighed in on how the love scene was one of the best this year, the stars also have a lot to say about it.

Rachel McAdams, when asked about the love scene, describes it as something unlike she’s ever done before. Agreeing with Weisz that it was an integral part of the movie, an empowering pivotal scene that is needed for her character’s development.

According to McAdams, this sex scene was a release, for her character to finally open up and be free. Filming the scene gave her a sense of freedom and safety, a camaraderie, of trying out all the things you love being a woman with another woman. She went on to say that there is an energy to the scene she hasn’t felt with any of her other onscreen male partners.

Asked whether it was challenging to take on a lesbian character, McAdams says that she never put her Esti character in that light. She only thought about channeling the oppression of sexuality and love between human beings.

Rachel Weisz has also given her take on this rather unique love scene as well, calling it much more powerful than just sex and describing it as extremely emotional, passionate, spiritual, and romantic. Weisz also emphasized that a love scene with a woman is less stubbly and much softer.

Disobedience is a story based on Naomi Alderman’s novel about a woman who returns to her community and rekindling their passionate love, breaking boundaries of sexuality and religion. It stars Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, alongside Alessandro Nivola. The film had its US release last April 27, 2018.