Who doesn’t love an entertaining spy action comedy? No, seriously, who doesn’t?
With life back to normal with work, school and family commitments, the idea of curling up on the couch and binge-watching something that destresses you is a tempting prospect.
Well, that is how I felt when “Back in Action” recently dropped on Netflix.
Not gonna lie here, I love a star-studded offering à la “Red Notice”, “The Union”, “The Old Guard” and “Extraction”.
These offerings don't reinvent the genre but they do appeal to fans.
Don’t be discouraged by international critics slamming “Back in Action”, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz captivate from start to finish.
The film centres on CIA undercover operatives Matt (Foxx) and Emily (Diaz) embarking on a mission to retrieve a sought-after device that can override any electronic system in the world. Of course, every criminal mastermind wants to get their hands on it.
Matt and Emily are sent to retrieve it from terrorist Balthazar Gor (Robert Besta), a former KGB agent. While they retrieve the device, all hell breaks loose in the process.
Chuffed that the mission went well, Emily shares big news too - she’s pregnant. While Matt is all in with them starting a family, the flight back home hits a bit of turbulence when they realise they have been compromised. In the ensuing fight on-board, the plane crashes with Matt and Emily barely escaping.
With the future uncertain, the two decide to use the opportunity of being presumed dead to start a new life.
Fast forward to several years later, Matt and Emily have settled into suburban life with their rebellious teenage daughter Alice (McKenna Roberts) and tech-savvy younger son, Leo (Rylan Jackson).
Emily, who has serious mommy issues, tries to be present in Alice’s life but her daughter keeps pushing her away.
Things snowball into chaos after Emily and Matt track their underage daughter to a club, where they take down a few thugs. The fight goes viral after being filmed live, exposing them to some dangerous individuals.
When their old friend Chuck (Kyle Chandler) shows up at their door and is taken out shortly after, Emily and Matt are forced to grab the kids and go on the run to sort out the mess.
Everyone is looking for the device, which, unbeknown to Emily, Matt hid at the home of her estranged mother, Ginny Curtis (Glenn Close), who is also a former legendary MI6 sniper.
Meanwhile, Baron (Andrew Scott), an MI6 agent and Emily's ex-boyfriend as well as his colleague Wendy (Fola Evans-Akingbola) are hot on their trails as well.
“Back in Action” has all the hallmarks of a fun popcorn movie. There’s plenty of drama, action and comedy, which is masterfully executed by the cast.
Foxx is charismatic and confident in his role. Diaz’s return to Hollywood is applauded by fans. She is sassy as she channels her “Charlie’s Angels” skills in the fight scenes.
The chemistry between the actors is another selling point.
And Close deserves a royal bow for her supporting role as a posh British. She pulls it off with aplomb.
There was a lot of hype around this movie, firstly for Diaz making her comeback, and secondly for Foxx, who suffered a near-death experience, which he unpacks in his Netflix special, “What Had Happened Was…”.
∎ “Back in Action ” is streaming on Netflix.
Rating: 3/5
What you should know about Diaz returning to the spotlight?
- The 52-year-old actress quit the industry in 2015. Her last movie was “Annie”, where she was cast in a support role as Miss Colleen Hannigan, a cruel and greedy foster mom to the protagonist. Interestingly, Foxx played the lead, Mr. William "Will" Stacks, a tech mogul turned politician. How, serendipitous her Hollywood return was in a movie opposite Foxx. Talk about a full-circle moment.
- In the year that she retired from acting, she tied the knot with musician Benji Madden in a Jewish ceremony at her home in Beverly Hills, California. In December 2019, the couple welcomed their daughter via surrogacy. In March 2024, they welcomed their son.
- In case you are worried about this film being a once-off for the actress. Whisper has it that she’s in talks with Apple Original Film Outcome for a project alongside Keanu Reeves. She will also be reprising her voice-over role as Princess Fiona in “Shrek 5”, which is expected to be released on the big screen in 2026.