What’s It About
Emma has a wonderful husband and two kids in the suburbs of New Jersey. She also has a secret life as an assassin for hire, a secret that her husband Dave discovers when the couple decide to spice up their marriage with a little role play.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Role Play feels like a cheap version of True Lies on a college budget. It tries to be a mix of family drama and action-comedy, but it misses the mark by not fully embracing either. Kaley Cuoco plays Emma, a globetrotting killer posing as a suburban mom. The film’s charm and humor come from David Oyelowo, who plays Emma’s spouse. The script throws us into the couple’s domestic issues without building an emotional foundation. The plot rushes forward without giving us time to connect with the characters. The film focuses on set pieces but lacks the depth to fully explore its content, whether it’s action, comedy, or emotion. Despite some witty one-liners from Oyelowo’s character, Dave, Cuoco’s performance feels hollow, and the chemistry between the leads is lacking, leading the film to become a mediocre action thriller rather than maximizing its comedic potential. The film introduces the concept of Emma’s criminal underworld, but the world-building lacks craftsmanship. She’s a contract killer with a bounty on her head who tries to balance her lethal profession with family life. The film takes a more serious turn when Emma’s cover is blown, and her husband, Dave, becomes aware of her true identity. Unfortunately, the plot doesn’t capitalize on the potential paranoia of Emma being on the run, and confrontational moments lack intensity. Even when the film explores a complicated history between Emma and a Federal Special Agent, the fight scenes and laughs are feeble, making the film feel more like a screen test than a finished product. The relationships and stakes feel unimportant, leaving the movie without a clear purpose. Sadly, Cuoco mutes her comedic strengths to play a modified La Femme Nikita type, leaving Oyelowo with the laughs. Role Play avoids graphic violence but maintains a fair body count. By the movie’s end, they tried to be a bit more serious, but the mediocre fight scenes continued to justify the subpar production.
OUR RATING – A BELOW OK 3