Keeping Up With the Joneses – Film Review by Fran Winston

Directed by: Greg Mottola
Starring: Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot

In cinemas October 21st

I can just see the production meeting now.  Get two really funny actors who are great at physical comedy and two super hot brooding actors and pair them together in an opposites attract kind of feature. Because that’s essentially what this is.

Galifianakis and Fisher play Jeff and Karen Gaffney, a normal suburban couple. Their cul de sac could very well be called Stepford it’s that pristine and runs so smoothly. Meanwhile Hamm and Gadot play Tim and Natalie Jones the new neighbours. To all intents and purposes they are simply a beautiful and perfect couple. But Karen’s gut tells her that there is something else going on and she soon discovers that they are actually spies. Once she convinces Jeff that she is right they plan on exposing them but it turns out they are now caught in the middle of a huge international plot that involves some very nasty people.

On paper this sounds be great. Unfortunately despite the best efforts of the cast it constantly falls flat. Hamm and Gadot are both gorgeous but they seriously lack in any sort of chemistry and despite giving good performances individually you never really believe that they are a couple. Meanwhile Galifianakis and Fisher have the chemistry but are burdened with ridiculous dialogue that is not nearly as funny as it thinks.

The script is actually a huge issue here. Certain reveals are made far too early, others far too late, situations are ridiculously contrived and everything is reinforced too many times lest the audience didn’t get it the first time. There are one or two enjoyable moments but they are sandwiched between so much sludge that they lose their impact. While I smiled mildly I can honestly say I didn’t laugh once at this apparent comedy.

It’s not dreadful. It’s just not very good. The best word to describe it is probably meh.  It’s not nearly as sexy as it thinks it is, or as funny. It is the kind of movie that doesn’t require much thought or engagement though so perhaps it is perfect hangover fare. Either way don’t go in expecting to laugh your socks off. Even if you only wore one sock it wouldn’t happen.