Back in Action is one of those amusingly meta titles. Most directly, it refers to married former spies Matt (Jamie Foxx) and Emily (Cameron Diaz) getting dragged into the espionage life after loose ends from their final case come calling. More broadly, though, it references the return of both stars to feature filmmaking. Diaz’s last prior role was in Annie (also with Foxx) 11 years ago. She stepped away to focus on other aspects of her life, including family and other employment endeavors. Foxx, on the other hand, seems like he’s been an ongoing presence on-screen. In reality, though, Back in Action is the first film he completed since having a stroke in 2023.
There’s an undeniable pleasure in seeing two stars return to feature filmmaking, especially given the times it seemed like Foxx might not survive. They look hale and hearty, at ease with the physical dimensions of their performances. Additionally, the two have strong chemistry, playing the kind of couple that has found fulfillment in each other and family life without losing spark or ambition. But does that mix of relief, nostalgia, and simple delight mean Back in Action is a good movie?
The quick and disappointing answer is no, it does not.
What works comes down to personnel. Besides Foxx and Diaz, the movie calls upon Kyle Chandler as the duo’s handler, Chuck, Andrew Scott as their British contact, Baron, and Glenn Close as Emily’s estranged mom and super spy in her own right, Ginny. Chandler uses his affable guy next-door goodness to smart effect. Scott has almost nothing to do but rings a surprising number of laughs at his very British (in the film British=devoid of emotion) presentation of jealousy. Close makes a meal of her accent and embraces the gin and tea “no hugs here, dear, we’re English” beats of her character.
On the other hand, the couple’s kids, Alice (McKenna Roberts) and Leo (Rylan Jackson), are fewer characters and more objects with one assigned change to make. Leo has to prove he’s more than a hypochondriac indoor kid, and Alice has to learn to appreciate her mom. Roberts and Jackson are fine at it, but the film clearly isn’t interested in them as anything but plot aspects. As Ginny’s boy toy and spy wannabe Nigel, Jamie Demetriou is every “this nerd wants to be the cool hero” cliché rolled up into one. Also, despite actually being British, his accent seems egregiously put on. This reviewer couldn’t decide if it was a sound mixing thing or the constant “see, I’m a dork” emphases the actor is adding.
The plot of Seth Gordon and Brendan O’Brian’s script is a largely paint-by-numbers affair, the kind of thing an audience can set its watch to. “At this point, the parents will reveal they’re still badasses. At that one, someone will turn traitor. Oh, and in the third act, everyone will learn their necessary lessons.” Predictable doesn’t necessarily mean bad, but pared with the general frictionlessness of Gordon’s direction, Back in Action feels lightweight and paper thin. On the action front, Gordon does fine. Still, he delivered stronger setpieces in the likes of Identity Thief and Horrible Bosses more than a decade ago. He shows competence here, but there’s nothing to make someone sit up and take notice.
That’s the bottom line when it comes to Back in Action. It isn’t an incompetent effort. All made it with skill, and several of the actors sold their lines well. But everyone involved has done better in better projects (and some worse ones too). So, yes, it is great to see Diaz and Foxx return. And yet, one can’t help but wish they got something a little chewier and cleverer as a welcome back gift.
Back in Action gets its spy on again starting January 17 on Netflix.