Role Play (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – Emma has a wonderful husband and two kids in the suburbs of New Jersey—she also has a secret life as an assassin for hire, a secret that her husband David discovers when the couple decide to spice up their marriage with a little role play.

My Take – Assassin comedy films all sound the same – a spouse living a double life, constantly switching between a ‘normal’ family life and one of intense danger, until, of course, everything blows up, sending the said character and the oblivious spouse down a rabbit hole of familiar misadventures.

But when done well, they can offer an enjoyable experience, a humorous take on trust, deception, and the hidden complexities within a seemingly ordinary marriage.

In the same vein of Apple‘s similarly themed mildly fun yet critically languished feature called The Family Plan (2023), starring Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan, which released only last month, Prime Video‘s new feature, a True Lies-style fun fairly light action comedy, also sees a couple shaken out of mid-marriage doldrums by the revelation that one of them is a deadly assassin for hire.

Never as action packed or violent as one might expect for the genre yet the Thomas Vincent directorial serves well enough with some action moments as well as enough degrees of humor.

Yes, it is thoroughly predictable, but Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo have enough charisma to carry the entire film on their shoulders, and it is actually fun to see them out of their comfort zone.

In the sense, Cuoco, a producer here, mutes her own familiar comedic strengths to play more toward the action gallery, allowing her co-star to get most of the laughs. Though, she retains her familiar slightly goofy, girl-next-door quality, the best part of the film is seeing David Oyelowo drop some rare comedic chops, last seen in the Gringo (2018).

The story follows Emma Brackett (Kaley Cuoco) is a seemingly successful wife and mother with two children. But Emma also harbors a secret. Unbeknown to her husband Dave (David Oyelowo), Emma is an assassin. The couple have been married seven years with two children, but Emma has never revealed who she really is, and continues to maintain her cover at all times.

However, Emma’s secret vocation is having an impact on her home life. She forgets her anniversary and this is causing potential issues in the marriage, which Emma is becoming more aware of. And after Dave attempts to spice things up in the bedroom, by buying Emma a saucy nurse’s outfit, she proposes an alternative option.

Suggesting the pair indulge in a spot of role play, where they meet up in the city, pretend to be strangers who bump into each other, and have a wild, unforgettable night together. But when Dave gets caught in traffic, and is late to their rendezvous, Emma meets inquisitive businessman, Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy), who recognizes her.

Soon things escalate, resulting in Emma’s secret life being exposed to everyone, putting her whole family life in danger. Leaving David to grapple with the realization that he may not truly know the woman he married.

Here, director Thomas Vincent, known for his work in French films and thriller series like Reacher, does decent work here. Handled lightly enough, we never feel the need to take it very seriously.

Which is fortunate, because otherwise we’d have to ponder why we’re rooting for an amorally ruthless hit woman anyway.

While the plot follows a somewhat predictable path, the film successfully explores the concept of hidden identities within a marriage, it could have benefited from more intricate action choreography and a few unexpected twists to enhance its overall engagement. The players are deft enough that a little more wit in the writing would have surely been well-served.

Of course, it helps that Kaley Cuoco does a solid job and is very likable. David Oyelowo is the biggest strength of the film, especially as he gradually learns what his wife does and those business trips are not what they seem. Their on-screen chemistry adds a spark to the film.

Bill Nighy as always, despite a limited screen time, leaves a lasting impact, while Connie Nielsen as the demented woman who raised and trained Emma is good. On the whole, ‘Foul Play’ is a predictable yet engaging action comedy bolstered by its very likable leads.