Back in Action Review: A Lukewarm Reunion of Stars in a Formulaic Spy Comedy
Netflix’s action-comedy Back in Action is as generic as its title suggests, both in story and execution. It revolves around Emily and Matt, ex-CIA operatives who retired to raise a family but are inevitably pulled back into the spy world years later. While the premise recalls better films like Kill Bill Vol. 2 and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the real draw is the reunion of Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx. Diaz returns from a decade-long acting hiatus, and Foxx makes his comeback after health setbacks in 2024. Unfortunately, their star power struggles to lift this otherwise uninspired movie.
Rehashing Familiar Tropes
Back in Action delivers a mix of action and comedy in a vein similar to Netflix’s recent wave of streaming spy films (Red Notice, Ghosted). It blends espionage antics with family drama, focusing on Emily and Matt navigating life as parents while reconnecting with their old lives. Their rebellious teenage daughter Alice and tech-savvy younger son Leon provide sitcom-style challenges, adding moments of humor and relatability. Diaz’s trademark charm and Foxx’s laid-back demeanor create believable chemistry, but even their charisma can’t mask the recycled plot points and predictable narrative beats.
Action and Comedy Fall Flat
The film’s action sequences, featuring car chases, gunfights, and a flamethrower-wielding Matt, are clumsily staged and lack tension. The globe-trotting element feels cheap, with generic green-screen locations that fail to evoke the excitement of a true international adventure. Pop hits accompanying the fight scenes serve as a tired running gag rather than enhancing the humor. While the second half introduces Nigel (Jamie Demetriou), a bumbling MI6 trainee, and Glenn Close as Emily’s estranged mother, their amusing performances are brief bright spots in an otherwise lackluster ensemble.
A Missed Opportunity
Back in Action hints at exploring deeper themes, such as the moral ambiguity of enjoying violent work, but these ideas are quickly abandoned. Instead, the characters’ actions are sanitized and devoid of consequence, rendering the story weightless. The film’s reliance on algorithmic, sequel-baiting plot points further dilutes any sense of originality or depth.
Verdict
Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx bring their A-list charm to Back in Action, but they’re saddled with a forgettable script and uninspired direction. While the film isn’t without its moments of humor and chemistry, it ultimately feels like a hollow, corporate-driven product that fails to deliver the excitement or laughs its premise promises. For fans of the stars, it’s a mildly entertaining watch, but don’t expect anything more than a fleeting distraction.
Rating: 2/5
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