REVIEW: BACK IN ACTION

3/5

Parental Advisory

114 Mins. Starring: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Andrew Scott, Jamie Demetriou, McKenna Roberts, Rylan Jackson, Kyle Chandler & Glenn Close. Screenplay: Seth Gordon & Brendan O'Brien: Director: Seth Gordon. On: Netflix.

Time for some action again. Ladies and gentlemen, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx are back in Netflix's new blockbuster for January, 'Back In Action'. Foxx, following his stand-up return from a "mysteeery illlllllness" in Netflix Is A Joke's 'What Had Happened Was...' (turns out, they didn't 'Clone Tyrone'). And Diaz, with her first film in over a decade since 2014's 'Sex Tape', with 'The Other Woman' and 'Annie' (please, no jokes), also with Foxx. This reunion of sorts, before Jamie's 'All-Star Weekend' and Cameron's return to the 'Shrek' franchise, directed by 'Horrible Bosses' (another motherf#####g reunion), 'Identity Thief' and 'Baywatch' director Seth Gordon, matches the classic comedy and amazing action again for a spy film that sleuths hard like the original Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'. Not to mention the Amazon Prime time, award nominated series starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. Or the 'Knight and Day' Cam did with J's 'Collateral' co-star, Tom Cruise. Is that mocked-up, motorbike twin gun poster for real?

'Red Notice', 'The Gray Man', 'The Old Guard'. Remember them? I could go on if my mind wasn't almost turning 40. Netflix's big-budget blockbusters at times feel more lacklustre, no matter how man big stars, bucks, or lavish locations they throw at the small smartphone screens and laptop lids. Perhaps something is lost in translation, like the cinematic 'Star Wars' shows on streaming service rival Disney Plus, because these big Netflix hits don't get time on the big-screen like the theatrical releases of their Academy Award bait during Oscar season. Buried in a January drier than James' Martini, 'Back In Action', isn't something to rush back home for, as Foxx and Diaz say a spies goodbye to become stay at home ('Dad Stop Embarrassing Me', also on Netflix) parents. But it is worth your subscription buck. Fun, and not free of fancy, this 'Action' can amaze, it just has the wrong stage. Although Netflix have found the sweet spot for this underrated genre of a 90s throwback postcard, much like Sony did for 'Spider-Man' web spin-off that felt like the early 2000s, before they were bullied like Maguire.

Foxx is on fine form and Diaz still shines bright like a diamond as the respective 'Night Shift' and 'Project Power' and 'Charlie's Angels' and 'The Mask' (she's open to putting it back if Jim carries on) actors seemingly build a new franchise as CIA NOC (huh?!) operatives. Their charisma is combustible, much like their fond family dynamics with new stars of the future McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson. In Gordon's script with Brendan O'Brien ('Neighbors'), there's veteran support from the likes of Kyle Chandler and legend Glenn Close (that 'Hillbilly Elegy' transformation) with a cocked and loaded game shooting rifle and British accent. And it's when the proceedings move to the Big Smoke of London that things get really interesting. Not just for the 'Fleabag' reunion of 'Sexy Priest' Andrew Scott (scoring nominations for Netflix's black and white 'Ripley) and hilarious scene stealer Jamie Demetriou, getting closer with Glenn. But for its force of a finale down the Thames and the epic Embankment walk, which you should really keep a London eye on. And now it looks like daddy's home for a sequel, lights, camera, these actors are back. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Spying: 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith', 'Knight & Day', 'Annie'.