“Back in Action” is a film that challenges the very essence of what constitutes a movie. What elements are essential? Actors? Scenes? Music? A narrative? Technically, “Back in Action” includes all these components, albeit in a rather heavy-handed manner.
However, if it were to be screened for cinema’s esteemed figure, Martin Scorsese, he might just explode in disbelief. Marketed as Cameron Diaz’s long-awaited return to the screen after a ten-year break, the film also stars the ever-charismatic Jamie Foxx.
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So far, so promising. Yet, it is helmed by Seth Gordon, the director known for introducing Priyanka Chopra to Hollywood with “Baywatch.” Unfortunately, “Back in Action” shares the same sloppiness as that film, squandering the undeniable appeal of its cast on a script so weak that even a film industry eager for franchises would throw in the towel.
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According to Indian Express, Diaz and Foxx portray Emily and Matt, secret agents who, during a high-stakes mission, discover they are about to become parents. Despite their brief acquaintance, they feel a strong connection.
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Presumed dead after their mission, they decide to abandon their former identities and start anew, trading danger for monotony and violence for everyday life.
Years pass, and the digital de-aging seen in the film’s opening sequence is abandoned. Emily and Matt now lead a quiet suburban life with their two children: a 14-year-old daughter named Alice and a 12-year-old son named Leo.
The next ten minutes of the film are filled with tedious comedic moments as they navigate the challenges of parenting, employing every espionage tactic at their disposal. When Alice sneaks out under the guise of a study date, they discover she has gone to a club filled with predatory men and excessive alcohol.
They attempt a rescue, but their cover is blown when club-goers capture videos of them fighting off some burly men. Suddenly, they find themselves on the run from the very villains they had tricked into thinking they were dead.
With their children in tow, Emily and Matt flee to England to seek help from her estranged mother, Ginny, played by Glenn Close, marking the presence of two Oscar winners in the main cast. Ginny, a spy herself, was largely absent during Emily’s upbringing, leading Emily to keep her mother away from her own children.
While Foxx and Diaz have salvaged many lackluster scripts in their careers, there’s only so much charm can achieve. Many of the jokes fall flat, and the action sequences feel reminiscent of films like “The Gray Man” or “Red Notice,” which represent the low point of streaming-era blockbusters.
At this stage, it’s become cliché to joke about scripts generated by AI, but “Back in Action” compels you to make that observation. One early scene, where Emily and Matt confiscate their kids’ phones to avoid detection, mirrors a similar moment in the recent Mark Wahlberg film “The Family Plan.” In truth, “Back in Action” doesn’t warrant a more nuanced critique; it shows little regard for its audience’s time or intelligence. Yet, one of us in this toxic relationship must be earnest.
