Review of The Joneses (2010) by Tom B — 25 Aug 2010

Here's a chance for a real hard looking satirical take on consumerism, commercialism and nihilism. That chance gets squandered. So it's a chance for a real hard looking edgy contemporary family film.

That too fails. What we are left with however are simply the ideas of two potentially good films. And one potentially great one. This film has all the makings of that great film, but just doesn't rise to the challenge.

It has the ability to really sink into the conflict that each character has created for themselves. The noose however never gets tighter. We should feel that by the third act that things are really getting convoluted and restrained.

That the edge is slipping away from the family. We only see glimpses. Consider the softened exit of Gary Cole's character and the abrupt and real lame crossover that Duchovny faces. His filibuster scene doesn't stand that test and Borte has run out of ideas and where to go.