Review of The Joneses (2010) by David G — 14 Aug 2010

A smart film based on the phrase "keeping up with the joneses". An attractive, loving upper class family moves into the perfect suburban home furnished with all the luxuries anybody would want.

Things couldn't look better for the Joneses as they acclimate themselves amongst their peers in the neighbourhood, golf course & the classroom. But, once out of the jealous eyes of the neighbours, things are very different than they seem.

No spoilers here suffice to say that once the "twist" is revealed 30 minutes in, it's a fun ride & dark social commentary on America's obsessive nature & willingness to go into debtâ?¦at any cost.

The cast does a good job perfecting their image - Demi Moore is a real stand-out, I wish she would get more work in the movies. Things do go predictably awry as the perfect family discovers they have real issues that money can not buy.

Lauren Hutton appears as the puppet master to this group offering big promises & big payouts. I wish her involvement was more clearly drawn especially after there is a car accident and a suicide. Exactly how did the Joneses get out of that.

The weakness to the film is David Duchovny (he's too timid, low-key & uninteresting) as well as the lame, romantic ending - I was hoping the film to end dark or sardonically, instead of a happy, life goes on, let's ride into the sunset with a coincidence provided here.

Rework the final 10 minutes & make Duchovny interesting as the rest of the cast (Amber Heard, Ben Hollingsworth, Gary Cole & Glenne Headly) & this would've been a terrific dark social comedy.

It's good, but deserves to be better.