Review of The Joneses (2010) by Sean L — 14 May 2011

Utterly forgettable as soon as the credits roll, there is still something that intrigued me about this movie and kept my interest high while watching it. It's melodramatic pauses try to capture you, with it's fake and predictable "will they/won't they?" love story, but that's not the real story here.

The story is about a fake post-nuclear "family" that is comprised of sales people who infiltrate suburbia to promote brand products for companies that pay them to make it seem like it provides them the perfect life, in hopes that jealousy and desire increase the products sales among the masses.

Enter in two adults, in the mid of their lives who have never found that special someone to spend their time with, and you have the makings of every cheesy "finally found what I'm looking for" story you've ever seen.

I honestly could not care less about the fate of the two main actors in their quest to find the thing that will fill the holes in their lives that has lead them to this point...mainly because I have found Demi Moore about as interesting as a box of Raisin Bran.

..and not even the one with the friendly Sun on the box...the cheap stuff that just says "Bran" across it. It also suffers from Trailer fail, you know going into the movie from the previews and what it says in the synopsis that this family isn't "real", but about 20 minutes into it, your supposed to be shocked when the daughter sheds her clothes and jumps into bed with the dad.

But what did capture me was when I found myself wondering if this type of viral marketing exists in real life and how successful it is. Marketing has always interested me, primarily because I have always felt that commercials are useless.

If I like Pepsi, I'll continue to buy it, no matter how many cute polar bears Coke shoves down my throat.But what this movie suggests, is that you can catch more flies with jealous honey. The "ohhh.

..I wan't that!" approach. I'm not immune to it, I don't think anyone is. If I am at a friends house, and I see they have the latest gaming system I don't, of course my gut instinct is "I want that, why do you have it and I don't".

All in all, it was worth my time, and I recommend it, if only for stellar performances from David Duchovny and Gary Cole and a few unexpected bumps along the way. Just save yourself some time and turn it off with 10 minutes left and go do a relaxing crossword puzzle instead.

..you already know how it ends.