Feb. 9, 2025
By Chloe O’Donnell
Staff Writer
“Back in Action” is a straightforward comedy whose plot comes across as an afterthought. This movie has shortfalls, but it isn’t half bad if you are focusing on its comedic aspects.
The film follows two former spies, Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx), who worked for the CIA before faking their deaths to retire and start a family together. They maintained their cover for 15 years until a viral video of them fighting a group of partiers exposes them to Polish terrorists.
The action sequences, which are well-choreographed and engaging, are another highlight of the film.
The terrorists begin searching for them in an effort to recover the Industrial Control Systems Key, which can cause power outages across London, England.
Emily and Matt are the only people who know where the Key is hidden, so they go to England to retrieve it before their enemies find it. They tell their kids, 14-year-old Alice (McKenna Roberts) and 12-year-old Leo (Rylan Jackson), about their past and take them along on their adventure.
“Back in Action” contains a lot of awkward dialogue, especially from the younger characters in the film. For instance, there is a scene where Alice’s friend calls Emily a “Karen” and a “boomer” in the same sentence, which is bound to make young viewers cringe.
The dialogue from the adults is also lackluster, as it sounds forced and unnatural.
Of all the actors, Foxx is the only one whose delivery is good enough to save the jokes. None of the comedy is great, but he has some funny moments. Diaz does a fair job in her role, but because of Foxx’s talent, her performance comes off as underwhelming.
The action sequences, which are well-choreographed and engaging, are another highlight of the film.
The best fight scene happens 10 minutes into the movie when Emily and Matt realize they are on a plane belonging to their enemies. The narrowness of the aircraft makes the close quarters fight especially interesting. While the outcome of this scene is unrealistic, it is entertaining.
Despite its big-name stars, “Back in Action” is average and forgettable. It won’t become anyone’s favorite movie, but if you are looking for a humorous film that is easy to comprehend and does not require much attention, “Back In Action” is a solid streaming option.
