©Courtesy of Netflix 

Don’t call Emily and Matt “Boomers.” They insist they are Gen X. That makes sense, considering Gen X’ers’ reputation for adaptability and (unlike other blabbermouth generational cohorts) an inclination to keep their secrets just that—secret. Those are all good traits for successful spies, which, in fact, Emily and Matt once were. Now they are parents. Sometimes that is more difficult, because they have a moody teen daughter. Nevertheless, when old enemies from their previous lives come looking for them, the couple’s muscle memories duly kick into gear during Seth Gordon’s Netflix original film Back in Action, releasing tomorrow.

For their final mission, Emily and Matt assumed the identity of an arm-dealing couple to steal an encryption-hacking device very much like the “Oz Key” in Citadel (but that was Prime series, so it cannot be the same McGuffin). They complete the operation fairly easily, but the getaway takes a dicey turn. However, the resulting plane crash allows them to disappear, presumed dead by the CIA and the rest of the world.

Fifteen years later, the former spies live comfortably in suburbia, where they raise their teen daughter Alice and pre-teen son Leo. Then one fateful morning, Chuck, their former handler at the Agency, knocks on their door to warn them the bad guys found them.

©Courtesy of Netflix 

Of course, they are looking for the dangerous gadget Emily assumed was lost in the crash. Unbeknownst to her, Matt’s stealthy fingers held onto to it. Anticipating a future need for bargaining leverage, he secretly hid it somewhere safe. Much to Emily’s chagrin, that means an unplanned visit to the English country estate owned by her estranged mother Ginny, another former spy enjoying a more conventional retirement.

The kids never met her. Frankly, Emily never even mentioned her. Of course, the parents also kept mum regarding their cloak-and-dagger past, so they must hold some awkward conversations with their confused kids.

 

Back in Action is an upbeat comedy that nearly became a tragedy. Production had yet to wrap when Jamie Foxx was hospitalized with what he later revealed was a very serious stroke. Even though Gordon finished the shoot with body doubles, there are no conspicuous holes or seams. It all flows quite smoothly.

The fitting title also heralds Cameron Diaz’s return to film after her retirement following the 2014 release of Annie, also starring Foxx. This is only their third film together (starting with Any Given Sunday), so fans might not yet think of them as another Tracy and Hepburn, but they share an appealingly relaxed rapport throughout their latest collaboration.

©Courtesy of Netflix 

Indeed, they both look good for their still youthful Gen X ages, which gives them credibility in their many action scenes. However, they really shine bantering affectionately together. As a result, they look and sound like a couple that is still going strong, despite the day-to-day challenges of parenting and a rather exceptional crisis. Based on their comedic rapport, fans will hope Foxx continues to lure Diaz out of retirement every few years.

As Grandma Ginny, Glenn Close sounds like she is having a jolly good time delivering her sly, tart-tongued dialogue. Andrew Scott plays Baron, the British agent who may or may not have betrayed the couple, with a surprisingly hard edge, while still expressing that mordant, bone-dry British wit. Kyle Chandler and Fola Evans-Akingbola (from The Night Agent) nicely help flesh out the murky espionage world playing Chuck and Baron’s partner, Wendy.

However, Jamie Demetriou’s lays on the slapstick goofiness much too thickly as Ginny’s clueless wannabe-spy “companion,” Nigel. As a bonus, the kids, McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson, impressive with their charismatic screen presences. Admittedly, they can be annoying, but they are kids. That’s their job.

Clearly, Back in Action was intended as light entertainment and it succeeds as such. Gordon and co-screenwriter Brendan O’Brien scrupulously avoid deep issues and heavy drama, but they wrote much smarter dialogue than that of Apple TV+’s thematically similar The Family Plan (starring Mark Wahlberg as a former assassin passing for an Average Joe dad). They also earn credit for depicting a marriage that starts healthy and stays healthy, for a refreshing change. Recommended as easy-going, generally family-friendly entertainment (a relatively mild PG-13), Back in Action premieres tomorrow (1/17) on Netflix.

©Courtesy of Netflix 

Grade: B-

If you like the review, share your thoughts below! 

Check out more of Joe’s articles. 

Here’s the trailer of the film.