GAME NIGHT ***
Dir: John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (15, 100 mins)
An ensemble comedy from the makers of Horrible Bosses might not be the best of enticements, but this mix of The Game and slapstick violence has a top notch cast papering over the cracks. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams star as Max and Annie, a competitive couple who meet up regularly with a group of friends for a games night. Charades, monopoly, whatever. However, regular participant and Max’s brother, Brooks, played by Kyle Chandler, has a new game in mind. One of them will be kidnapped and the others have to find them. The situation is more real than they think, as thugs – apparently faux-federal agents – kidnap Brooks, and the rest of the throng have to find him. Game Night utilises the comedy chops of Lamorne Morris (New Girl), Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe), Chelsea Perretti (Brooklyn Nine Nine), as well as Jesse Plemons, Danny Huston and Michael C. Hall, not to mention a cute dog. This could be a black comedy with guffaws rather than groans.
Opens Mar 2