RECENTLY VIEWED: GAME NIGHT

I love having HBO, because that network shows a lot of movies that I missed in the theater. With a busy schedule, I may only see half a dozen movies in the theater. One movie that I wanted to see when it was new with Game Night. Unfortunately, that film came and went in theaters, but I got to catch it on HBO. Game Night is a 2018 American dark comedy film directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein and written by Mark Perez. It stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, and follows a group of friends whose game night turns into a real-life mystery after one of them is kidnapped by apparent burglars. The film's supporting cast includes Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Michael C. Hall, and Kyle Chandler. Warner Bros. Pictures released the film on February 23, 2018. It was a commercial and critical success, grossing $117 million worldwide and receiving praise for its dark humor and performances.

Six close friends meet each week for a game night involving board games, charades and pop culture trivia quizzes. Being the most competitive of the bunch, Max (Jason Bateman) and his wife Annie (Rachel McAdams), who seem to be a perfect match in every way, usually win every time. However, their marriage is on rocky ground as Annie fears that Max doesn't want to have children. When Max's shady brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) reappears after a long mysterious absence and suggests that they have their next gathering at his place, no one expects that their weekly game night is about to go to the next level as Brooks organizes a full blown murder mystery party complete with actors as criminals and cops for them.

However, when Brooks is violently kidnapped in front of everyone, it turns out that the game is all too real. Now, Max, Annie, their womanizing dimwitted friend Ryan, his domineering Irish date Sarah, and their childhood friends Michelle and her husband Kevin, who's obsessed with finding out with which mysterious celebrity Michelle cheated him on once, must join forces and their wits to rescue Brooks from two dangerous rival criminals who seemingly want his head. Unfortunately, they'll also need help from their creepy introverted next door neighbor Gary, a grieving divorcee cop who desperately wants to be their friend.

The best of the movie (and any movie for that matter) is Jason Bateman. He is every average married white man! Another high point were the friends Michelle and Kevin. Kevin is obsessed with finding out what famous person his wife slept with. The gag runs through the whole movie, and end hilariously. At times the movie sort of drags, but the dark comedy in the film is great. When Max and Annie try to figure out how to get a bullet out, it is like they are looking for directions on how to make a turkey or something. This is a good movie to see on HBO. I might not have been as satisfied if I saw the film in the theater, but it is definitely worth your time...

MY RATING: 8 OUT OF 10