A new Netflix film featuring a major Hollywood star’s first appearance in over ten years disappointingly fails to meet expectations.
The action-filled comedy teams up the renowned actress with another top-tier actor, but the result has been met with lukewarm reviews since its release on the streaming platform this Friday (January 17).
Cameron Diaz last graced the big screen in 2014, appearing in a series of moderately successful yet criticised comedies; The Other Woman, Sex Tape and a reimagining of the classic musical Annie.
She subsequently took a hiatus of several years to prioritise her family, leaving countless cinema enthusiasts speculating about her potential return.
The star of The Holiday is now officially making a comeback, preparing for a new venture with Keanu Reeves, the forthcoming thriller Outcome, and set to reprise her memorable role as Princess Fiona in the eagerly awaited Shrek 5, reports the Mirror US.
However, until then, her first film in 11 years, Back in Action, is currently available on Netflix. But what’s the consensus?
In this comedic family thriller, Diaz portrays retired secret agent Emily who, along with her husband Matt (played by Jamie Foxx), leave their super-spy careers behind upon learning she’s expecting.
Fast forward 15 years, an old mission resurfaces to threaten them and they’re compelled to flee with their two children, defiant teenager Alice (McKenna Roberts) and introverted son Leo (Rylan Jackson).
Even with the excitement of seeing the Charlie’s Angels lead tackle another action-packed role, consensus among critics suggests that Back in Action hasn’t quite hit the mark, languishing with a lacklustre 24 percent rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Guardian lamented: “Combined star power only takes this overfamiliar caper so far, let down by an unfunny script and a lack of originality.”
Their critique goes on: “It’s an easy way back in,” adding that “A low-effort comeback vehicle quite literally called Back in Action, but the film is only a half-victory at best. While it might prove that Diaz still possesses that same particular magic, it also shows that she should be far more discerning with how she chooses to share it.”
Collider offered an acknowledgment of Diaz and Foxx’s efforts, conceding they “do their best with what they’re given”, yet bemoaned that “the dull, exposition-heavy script never gives them the chance to flex any of their dramatic muscles, and they rarely get to be truly funny either.”
Further commentary included: “The adolescent characters are too one-note and underdeveloped to be engaging for a younger crowd, so while it’s technically appropriate for family movie night, I wouldn’t count on them staying engaged. Consequently, the action and romance are too tame and watered-down to make it a good choice for date night.”
However, IndieWire offered a glimmer of hope, pointing out that the two leads “have just enough charm to prop up a paper-thin spy comedy.”
However, they clarify: “All of which is to say that preexisting goodwill makes Back in Action more watchable than it has any right to be.
“The uninspired script drags in all the wrong places and the set pieces fail to dazzle, ensuring that the film succeeds as neither an action movie nor a comedy.
“But Foxx and Diaz would have been charismatic and attractive enough to carry the film on their shoulders under normal circumstances, and the fact that the film is hitting Netflix after we faced the prospect of never seeing them act again covers a multitude of creative sins.”
Is the star power of Foxx and Diaz sufficient to save Netflix’s latest action-comedy?
Back in Action is available to stream on Netflix.