Back In Action
The lightweight spy caper is a lot of fun (even if it’s ultimately fairly forgettable), thanks to the charisma of its main double-act.
Premise: After having retired from the spy game fifteen years ago, ex-CIA married couple Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx) are forced to go on the run with their two teenage children when their cover is blown and mercenaries come looking for a device that they stashed years ago.
Review:
Back in Action is the sort of throwback action-comedy that gives you exactly what you think it will – no more, no less. It’s not trying to be a “serious” spy-fi movie in the Mission: Impossible vein, but neither is it a tongue-in-cheek subversion of the genre like Argylle – instead it feels like the kind of action-comedy that wouldn’t have looked out of place in the 80s/90s. And unlike 2023’s Heart of Stone, Back In Action seems to have a much clearer idea of the tone it's aiming for, and so maintains its sense of fun throughout..
The film’s as enjoyable as it is because of the charisma of its two leads (both of whom are ‘back in action’ themselves after absences from our screens). Cameron Diaz has been retired from acting for the last decade, and it’s a genuine joy to see her back in a fun, knockabout role that teams her up with her real-life friend and regular collaborator Jamie Foxx, who himself had a short medical-related career break in 2023. The two of them spark off each other really well, and although the plot to Back in Action is nothing to write home about and the script doesn’t exactly stretch either of them, the two of them keep the energy up and the laughs coming throughout the movie.
“…provides plenty of fun-packed action sequences & entertaining comedy moments…”
Thankfully, they don’t have to carry the film entirely on their own, and additional laughs are provided by a very game Glenn Close (in a rare comedy role) and a slightly over-the-top (but just the right side of annoying) Jamie Demetriou (in arguably his highest profile Hollywood role yet). Both are unexpectedly funny throughout, although Kyle Chandler and Andrew Scott don’t get to have nearly as much fun playing the straight roles, and the actors playing the kids are hamstrung with fairly predictable character arcs (although the parenting difficulties do provide some great comedy moments).
Ultimately, this isn’t a film that’s really going for intricate plotting (you’ll probably see most of the developments coming a mile off) or unexpected character arcs – it’s about fun-packed action sequences and entertaining comedy moments, and in fairness, Back in Action provides plenty of both … even if you may struggle to remember much about the film after the end credits roll.
