Hold onto your popcorn, folks, because Cameron Diaz has risen from the ashes of retirement like a phoenix wearing yoga pants and a slightly confused expression. Yes, the queen of 90s rom-coms has graced us with her presence once again in Netflix’s Back in Action. Apparently, a decade of sipping organic wine and perfecting the art of the mommy-and-me playdate wasn’t enough to quell the siren call of Hollywood (or maybe she just really missed those hefty paychecks).
Back in Action
But let’s be real, after a string of cinematic misfires that could make a C-list actor weep, one has to wonder: was this comeback truly necessary? Diaz, who once charmed us with her infectious smile and impeccable comedic timing in classics like There’s Something About Mary (remember that hair gel scene? Iconic!), seems to have lost her mojo somewhere between The Other Woman and that godforsaken Annie remake.
And now, she’s back with Back in Action, a film that’s about as exciting as a PTA meeting. Partnering with Jamie Foxx, who’s also no stranger to questionable career choices (we’re still trying to forget Collateral Beauty), this action-comedy promises thrills, spills, and hopefully, some laughs. But does it deliver? Well, let’s just say it’s more likely to send you back to bed than to the edge of your seat.
Back in Action joins the ranks of those countless films that try to cram two genres into one, hoping that something, anything, will stick. It’s like watching a Frankenstein monster stitched together from the remnants of a cheesy 80s action flick and a lukewarm sitcom. We’ve got car chases, explosions, and gunfights, all awkwardly interspersed with jokes about school pickups and screen time. It’s like the filmmakers were playing a game of cinematic Mad Libs, and the results are about as coherent.
Director Seth Gordon, the mastermind behind such gems as Identity Thief (remember that painfully unfunny road trip?) and the Baywatch remake (yes, the one that somehow managed to make lifeguards boring), once again demonstrates his uncanny ability to suck the life out of any genre he touches. The action sequences are so bland they could be used to cure insomnia, and the comedic moments are so forced they could give you a hernia from cringing too hard.
And the soundtrack? Don’t even get me started. Picture this: a high-speed car chase set to the tune of Etta James’s “At Last.” Or a shootout accompanied by Nat King Cole’s “L-O-V-E.” It’s like the filmmakers were trying to create the most ironic action movie ever, and they succeeded with flying colors (of beige).
The plot, if you can call it that, revolves around Diaz and Foxx playing a married couple who used to be spies. But then they had kids, and apparently, saving the world takes a backseat to changing diapers and attending soccer games. However, their peaceful suburban existence is rudely interrupted when their past comes back to haunt them, forcing them to dust off their spy gadgets and trade in their minivan for a getaway car.
Now, this premise could have been fun, if handled with a bit of wit and originality. But alas, Back in Action opts for the most predictable and cliché-ridden route imaginable. We’ve got the bumbling dad who can’t handle his kids, the overbearing mother-in-law (played by Glenn Close, who seems to be channeling her inner Cruella de Vil), and the villain who’s so cartoonishly evil he might as well be twirling a mustache.
And let’s not forget the supporting characters, who are so cringeworthy they could make a mime artist blush. Andrew Scott, bless his soul, tries his best as the villain, but he’s given so little to work with that he might as well be reading the phone book. And Jamie Demetriou, as Glenn Close’s love interest, delivers a performance so bizarre and over-the-top that it’s like watching a fever dream unfold on screen.
So, is Back in Action worth watching? Unless you’re a die-hard Cameron Diaz fan who’s willing to endure two hours of cinematic mediocrity just to see her back on screen, the answer is a resounding no. This film is a testament to the fact that even the most talented actors can’t save a bad script and uninspired direction.
Back in Action is a missed opportunity, a comedy that falls flat on its face and then proceeds to trip over its own feet. It’s a film that’s so bad it’s almost good, but not quite. If you’re looking for a good laugh, you’re better off watching paint dry. At least that’s free.
