[7.00/10] The Joneses (2010)

The Joneses (2010)

"The Joneses" premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, but it was officially released in Spring 2010. The story is about a fake family that moves into a ritzy neighborhood with the intention of selling everything possible but surreptitiously, in order to make scads of money for the company for whom they work and for themselves. This is a clever and very inventive premise, which allows "The Joneses" to attempt to explore some of the things that are wrong with our society where materialism often predominates over meaningful relationships. Once you understand what's going, the story becomes a bit is a bit predictable, but not so much as that it would ruin the movie for you. The strength of the movie actually lies in the script that has been very well-written by Derrick Borte. The dialogues are full of wit and intelligence, and fine, often sarcastic humor, that makes "The Joneses" one truly enjoyable and funny experience. The cast is truly wonderful, with Duchovny and Moore leading the way with a surefire handling of their most important roles in years. Amber Heard looks like a cross between Keira Knightley and Kristen Stewart, and she certainly can act. The performances in this film are terrific, not only from the four leads, but also from Gary Cole and Glenne Headly as the next-door neighbor couple, and Lauren Hutton as the boss of the company the family work for. Production values are quite good as well, with bright and vivid art direction and lighthearted score that suits the atmosphere. Overall, "The Joneses" is well-acted and smartly-scripted comedy/drama, that despite its minor flaws, is engaging, enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

• My Rating: 7.00/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 63% (6.3/10)
• IMDb: 6.5/10