Back in Action review by Bobby Blakey
Horrible Bosses, Identity Thief, and Baywatch director Seth Gordon’s latest film Back in Action already was getting a lot of buzz due to the return of Cameron Diaz to film for the first time in 11 years, but that was only the beginning. Her co-star Jamie Foxx then made the news with a near death brain bleed that shut the film down in 2023. Thankfully he has made a full recovery, the film is completed and it’s finally here, but was it worth the wait and hype or will it fail to complete the mission it set out on?
Back in Action follows former CIA spies Emily and Matt who are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed. The films co-stars McKenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou and Glenn Close who are all ready to get in on the action.
There seems to be a theme more often than not these days with spies turned civilians and turned back into spies. We have seen it a hundred times so what makes this one special or stand out? Nothing really, but that doesn’t make it any less of a fun flick. Sure, it’s predictable and filled with all the cliched action-comedy tropes, but the leads make it a fun ride that really tries to step up the action into something bigger than it might have been otherwise.
The reason this film works at all is Foxx and Diaz. They are great together and both look to be having a great time. Diaz hasn’t lost a beat and almost felt more relaxed than she had in some time relishing in the fun and action. Foxx is doing the same, looking like he is having a blast and knowing the circumstance is probably doing just that. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously but tries not to make it a mockery of itself either.
There is plenty of over-the-top action that is well handled even when it is silly which is par for the course in these kinds of films. They know what kind of film they are making and go all in. The injection of the family dynamic with their kids brings humor and irritation as it does get old at times. The always problem kid that butts heads at every turn is here as expected, but it lends itself to some fun dialogue when it works.
The ending of the film is leaving things open for another outing should it do well, and I am here for it. The good thing about this dynamic is that it easily transitions into more tales as long as they don’t dumb it down further to work the kids into operatives.
Check out Back in Action streaming now on Netflix.