The Joneses

Every so often a film comes along which has an idea that is actually really good. The Joneses is such a film. The idea in a nutshell - a family move into a well-to-do suburban neighbourhood and seem like the ideal family with all the latest must-have items. Sooner rather than later all their neighbours want what they have too. The only thing is that that the Joneses aren't a real family at all but a stealth marketing team bosting sales of these items by the ripple effect.

A great idea is one thing, a great film is another and The Joneses is not a great film. It has good moments: it has some genuine laughs, the kind if performance from David Duchovny that makes you wonder why he hasn't made more better films, some moments of genuine chemistry between him and Demi Moorem, a welcome straight turn from

But overall you kind of leave with the feeling that they didn't know what to do with their idea and move in too many different directions at once. There are some moments that touch on satire, some broader comedy but then the film lurches uncomfortably in the final act first into melodrama and then into rom-com mode. The sub-plots involving the two children have some really good moments, but, especially in the case of the secretly-gay fake-son, are not given enough time to fully develop. This scattergun technique diffuses the focus and results in an ultimately not quite satisfying experience as though the film was just that little bit afraid to really try and skewer marketting practices fully.

Overall - 6.5/10 - The idea is wonderful, and there are good moments and good performances but overall the film can't really decide what it wants to be. The ride is definitely entertaining and watchable, just not sure it really takes you where it hints it might.