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It’s been a decade since we’ve seen Cameron Diaz on screen. Now, she’s back with Netflix’sBack in Action. The film had high anticipations, but sadly, it’s more of a defeat than a triumph. You’d think teaming up with Jamie Foxx for a spy comedy would be a victor, but nope—both fanatics and critics aren’t buying it.
Directed by Seth Gordon,Back in Actionfollows two former spies-turned-suburban parents. Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) used to save the world, but now they’re coaching soccer and selling puzzles on Etsy.
Things take a turn when their quiet family life is disrupted by an old mission. Sounds exhilarating, right? Eh, not entirely. With a predictable plot and a load of clichés,Back in Actionomits the mark for laughs. Let’s dive into more reasons why it falls short.
7.Back in Action‘s lackluster script
The biggest issue withBack in Actionis its weak storyline. The movie kicks off with a flashback to Emily and Matt’s last mission as spies. They’re swiping an Industrial Control Systems key from a nefarious Eastern European crime boss.
After a successful mission, their plane gets attacked, and they fake their deaths to vanish. Turns out, Emily is pregnant, so the two decide to flee their spy lives behind and raise a family in secret.
Fast forward 15 years, and Emily and Matt are living normal lives with their rowdy teenage daughter, Alice, and their young son, Leo. But their tranquil life untangles when Alice gets caught tiptoeing into a club.
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Matt and Emily end up in a confrontation that goes viral, disclosing their identities. Now, they’re back on the run, trying to retrieve the same key they stole years ago. While the plot sounds like it has potential, the implementation is bitterly bland.
The opening sequence fails to prove a strong affinity between Emily and Matt, making it hard to root for them. Their dynamic feels rushed, and their earnest moments lack profundity. The rest of the story is filled with predictable wrenches and generic action scenes that don’t count anything new.
6.Back in Actionfeels too predictable to enjoy
The plot feels like a checklist of spy movie clichés. If you’ve seen even one spy comedy, you’ve literally seenBack in Action. The movie attempts to combine action and humor but ends upfeeling like a watered-down versionof better films. Every wrench is predictable, and there’s no real tension or excitement.
The action scenes include all the typical suspects: a fight in a fancy ballroom, a pursuit through crowded lanes, and a mid-air showdown. While these sequences are expertly shot, they’re far from groundbreaking. You won’t find yourself on the edge of your seat because you already know exactly how things will play out.
Even the vibrant moments, like Emily’s strained relationships with her daughter and her own mother, Ginny (played by Glenn Close), are oversimplified. These variances could’ve added chasm, but instead, they’re wrapped up too neatly to feel impactful.
5.Back in Actionunderutilized its talent
A star-studded cast deserves better. The cast ofBack in Actionis piled with talent. BesidesCameron DiazandJamie Foxx, you’ve gotGlenn Close,Andrew Scott,Kyle Chandler, and Jamie Demetriou. But the script doesn’t provide them anything to work with.
Diaz and Foxx have great chemistry, but their roles are so underwritten that they can’t truly radiate. Glenn Close, who plays Emily’s badass mother, is one of the few highlights. She clearly has fun with the role, but her character is more of a plot device than a fully evolved individual.
Scott and Chandler are criminally underused. Both are competent in exalting any project they’re in, but here, they’re eased to one-dimensional side characters. Demetriou provides some comic comfort, but even his jokes feel pushed.
4.Back in Action‘s flat humor
The comedy feels obsolete and uninspired inBack in Action. For a movie that’s believed to be witty,Back in Actiondoesn’t offer many laughs. Most of the gags lean on tired clichés or slapstick satire that seldom lands.
There’s a Wordle joke, an Uber gag, and a few attempts at comical banter, but none of it feels refreshed or indelible. Diaz and Foxx are both naturally amusing actors, but the script doesn’t give them enough material to work with.
Even the moments that are supposed to be laugh-out-loud humorous come across as botched. In a movie like this, the humor should be a highlight, but instead, it feels like an afterthought.
3.Back in Actionhas unremarkable action sequences
The action scenes are forgettable and lack ingenuity. Action movies live or perish by their set pieces, andBack in Actionyields to deliver anything stimulating. The fight scenes are well-choreographed, but they don’t bring anything fresh to the table.
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You’ve seen these sorts of sequences in countless other movies, and they don’t leave much of a footmark here. The movie sticks to safe, predictable action whips instead of taking risks or trying something visionary.
What’s worse is that the action doesn’t feel affiliated with the story. It’s just there to fill the time between the touching junctures, which themselves lack impact.
2.Back in Actionfeatures conspicuous product placement
The movie feels like one big ad. If there’s one thingBack in Actiondoes ably, it’s showcasing brands. From Diet Coke to Nike to the Apple VR headset, the product placement is impossible to shun. One scene even involves a Diet Coke and Mentos outburst, which feels more like a commercial than a flick moment.
While product placement can work when done subtly, here it’s so blatant that it drags you out of the story. Instead of concentrating on the characters or the plot, you’re preoccupied with all the logos and brand mentions.
1.Back in Actionmisses the mark for Cameron Diaz’s comeback
This movie doesn’t do justice to Cameron Diaz’s talent. After a 10-year hiatus, fans were keen to see the 52-year-old return to acting. She’s always had an exceptional appeal and an innate mastery to light up the screen. ButBack in Actiondoesn’t give her much to perform with.
While Diaz still fetches her signature energy to the role, the movie doesn’t let her shine. The humor is lackluster, the emotional moments are shallow, and the action scenes are forgettable. For someone as talented as Diaz, this comeback feels like a frittered shot.
Her previous hits, likeThere’s Something About MaryandMy Best Friend’s Wedding, showcased her scope and captivation.Back in Action, on the other hand, feels like just another generic Netflix movie.
Back in Actionis available to stream on Amazon Prime Video!
Shreya Jha
Articles Published :1042
Meet Shreya, FandomWire’s go-to Pop-Culture Writer. She holds a master’s degree in Journalism and a pop culture obsession that rivals even the most die-hard ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel fans.Her articles have been published in Animated Times, Creator Mail, and The Luxxe Mag. When Shreya’s not busy dishing out hot takes, she is lost in the world of rom-coms.
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