There’s no doubt that action films are making a crazy comeback this year thanks to the next instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise. Yet, 2024 seemed to deliver with some exciting movies like Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Rebel Ridge and even Fall Guy. Of course, in the realm of TV, there were several standouts, including the impeccable and thrilling series, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. For a show that adapted a movie, it left viewers captivated by having two spies as a couple. When it comes to Netflix’s new film, Back in Action, it takes that concept to the next level by actually having a real family as its focus.
Back in Action follows lovers and former spies, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx), as they raise a family. Going off the grid, the two settle down for good with their kids, Alice (McKenna Roberts) and Leo (Rylan Jackson). However, when their old friend (and spymaster) Chuck (Kyle Chandler) shows up, Emily and Matt are pulled back into business. As the two begin hunting for a powerful device they previously lost, they also get trailed by government forces, like MI6’s Baron (Andrew Scott) and terrorists alike. With their kids’ safety at risk, Emily and Matt race against the clock to stop this threat before it’s too late.
Seth Gordon, who also worked on The Night Agent and The Goldbergs, definitely makes it clear where he’s pulling inspiration from. As a director who deeply works with projects centered around families, this film revels in exploring those tropes and dynamics. Of course, that would include how the generational gap affects interpersonal relationships, something that plays a huge role here. Yet, through some charming moments of improvisation and scenes that elicit this empathetic feeling, Gordon proves that in the conflict of it all, there can be a heartfelt story.
That’s exactly what’s done between Emily and Alice, whose mother-daughter relationship is very complicated. At the beginning, this dynamic starts out like how one would expect in a coming-of-age film. Alice wants to have the social freedom that every teenager has, but Emily and Matt have concerns for her. Yet, with them also being spies, it’s a hypocritical conundrum that tests the family’s initial relationship. There’s a certain moment in the first act that really shows this, with an entire action-packed moment to go along with it. However, as Emily and Matt begin exposing themselves more to their kids, there’s this natural shift that hammers in this nicely.
This dynamic wouldn’t be as moving without Cameron Diaz and McKenna Roberts. Both of them are able to bring something to the table that makes their bond feel genuine. Diaz, who’s returning to acting in over 11 years, still manages to be hilarious as ever as Emily. Her chemistry with Foxx feels natural, especially in the scenes when the family’s together, trying to make sense of everything. However, Roberts as the angsty Alice transforms into this compelling character in the second act. There’s one scene that she shares with Emily’s mom, Ginny (Glenn Close), that’s, although short, very sweet. Sure, Alice might be moody initially, but her gradual change in personality is paced naturally.
Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the charisma that Jamie Foxx and Rylan Jackson display in this film. Both of them, as Matt and Leo respectively, play off their circumstances with this wit that brings the right amount of humor. This especially goes for Leo, when he eventually discovers that he’s more adept at being a spy than he thought. He shares several scenes with Ginny’s “caretaker”, Nigel (Jamie Demetriou), who’s clumsily more incompetent than he states. The two of them together make for a fun duo, even though they’re only together for a bit. Nonetheless, Matt and Leo still provide enough entertaining material to the more serious arc involving Emily and Alice.
As for other side characters, Baron and Chuck are pretty much surface-level characters, for the most part. In Baron’s case, he’s more of a straightforward agent that one might would expect. However, he does have this ongoing rivalry with Matt to claim Emily’s heart, though it’s just for show. Throughout the film, his investigation makes one think he’s onto something when he’s really onto something else. It’s supposed to have that twist factor, but it didn’t really feel like it clicked until the climax. However, Scott still does a good job portraying Baron’s no-nonsense character.
Chuck is more of an unusual case. His character goes through this drastic change following the flashback where Emily and Matt go off-grid. Without spoiling too much, I can say that his motivations can be a bit of a cliche. The film makes him out to lean one way when, in reality, he’s leaning towards a different way. Much like Baron, his character is supposed to balance out the morality aspect of it all. Yet, in its own way, his character feels somewhat barebones. Although, this is probably due to the film reserving him for the final act.
Where the film really works is in its action, which really goes to show how insane it all is. The first few action scenes involving Emily and Matt are only a taste with what’s in store. There’s an entire fight that takes place at a gas station, which does use a gas pump as a weapon! Other fights take much more time to build up, especially the one involving Ginny. That one feels completely ripped out of Hitman when she tries to stealthily take out some house invaders. The cinematography and editing really work hand-in-hand for these fights, save for the final confrontation. There are some shots there that could’ve used minor improvements, but all in all, it still holds up well enough.
However, the film also loves to bring in all of these licensed songs for all the action scenes. While it did feel overbearing in the first few sequences, it fortunately loosens up later on. Expect Nat King Cole and Dean Martin’s songs to be featured here: it can be cheesy, but it’s mostly alright.
Back in Action is a fun and action-packed take on Mr. & Mrs. Smith, even though it plays it safe for the most part. The inspiration from that film (and show) is all but clear, with Gordon even directly stating himself that it mostly is. Yet, all of it comes together to create an exciting family story about generational connection despite the chaos of life. With this film also being Diaz’s return to acting, it was a great choice on her behalf as this was a solid film for her to take before returning to Shrek 5. Sure, it’s still got it’s issues, but it’s an enjoyable comedy flick nonetheless.
Back in Action begins streaming on January 17 on Netflix.
