Keeping Up with the Jones (2016)

Keeping Up with the Jones (2016)

6/10

Starring

Zach Galifianakis

Jon Hamm

Isla Fisher

Gal Gadot

Directed by Greg Mottola

 

Keeping Up with the Joneses is a movie that was critically panned and a box office bomb—and yet, I liked it. I enjoyed how the team (i.e., the four leads) merged their weirdness into one film and delivered a funny yet eventful movie that kept me excited from beginning to end. I actually laughed while watching, which is something that does not happen often.

Gal Gadot and Jon Hamm were awesome in this movie as secret agents. Their sexiness oozed all over the screen, making every moment they shared one where you’d hold your breath and wish you were part of the team.

I usually have a huge dislike for Zach Galifianakis’s brand of comedy and don’t naturally find him funny, but in this movie, I did. For me, this is the kind of silliness that fits him—not the odd, oblivious weirdness that grosses me out, but the innocent guy who’s aware of what’s happening, has a good heart, and catches on quickly.

I also enjoyed how the movie focused more on the four leads, giving everyone else barely any recognition and little to no involvement in the story arc itself.

The movie starts with the introduction of Jeff and Karen Gaffney (Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher, respectively). They’re parents living in the suburbs who finally have time for themselves now that their kids are away for a while.

They notice the house across from them has been sold, and soon, new neighbors move in. When Tim and Natalie Jones (Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot, respectively) arrive, Karen senses something’s off with the couple—they’re just too perfect. Tim and Natalie are overly inquisitive about Jeff’s life, which Karen picks up on immediately, but Jeff sees it as the couple being friendly.

Things start to unravel when a proposed sex game between the Gaffneys reveals their house has been bugged by the Joneses. Karen convinces Jeff to break into the Joneses’ apartment, where they confirm Karen’s fears: the Joneses aren’t who they claimed to be.

It’s an action-packed movie—not exactly family-friendly, but one you’ll enjoy if you love this sort of suburban action flick.

Sadly, this movie won’t get a sequel since it was a box office bomb, but the comedy was refreshing and something I genuinely enjoyed.

The actors played off each other’s strength, which made each one fun to see on screen. It is easy to recommend this movie, if you have not already seen it.