Keeping Up With The Joneses

This light action-comedy might be in many ways predictable, but that doesn’t make it any less hilarious.

The Gaffneys (Isla Fisher and Zach Galifianakis) have their quiet, suburban lives turned upside down when a ridiculously good looking and sophisticated couple moves into the neighbourhood, the Joneses (Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot). While Jeff (Galifianakis) gets cosy wish new man-crush Tim (Hamm), Karen (Fisher) grows suspicious of their cul-de-sac’s trendy new power couple and begins to investigate, the Joneses certainly aren’t what they pretend to be – and hilarity ensues.

The leading ensemble are all great in their roles: it’s a relief to see Zach Galifianakis do well in a comedy role that isn’t a complete caricature, Isla Fisher demonstrates her great comedic timing, Jon Hamm’s character reads very much as Don Draper (his Mad Men protagonist) in another life (not that that’s not a complaint), and Gal Gadot takes a cheeky spin on the typical femme fatale, perhaps providing us with a snapshot of what can be expected in her upcoming turn as Wonder Woman.

Keeping Up With The Joneses plays off of tropes from 60’s era spy films and suburban serial comedies with some modern updates thrown in. The Gaffney’s kids are safely (and conveniently) shipped off to summer camp for the entirety of their life-affirming journey.

The filmmakers are very careful to portray Karen’s investigative skills as ‘smart’ and ‘intuitive’, rather than ‘nosy’ and ‘hysterical’ – one pet peeve though, the typical Hollywood makeover scene is predictably underwhelming (“oh wow, who’d’ve thought this baben’ Hollywood actress would look amazing in a gold dress and some lipstick?”).

Keeping Up With The Joneses is however right up there with Bad Moms as one of this year’s surprisingly great comedies. (AM)

★★★1/2