Review: The Joneses

The Joneses are a seemingly perfect family who have just moved into a suburban neighborhood. The only thing Steve (David Duchovny) loves other than his family is golf. Kate (Demi Moore) loves to host parties bringing the whole neighborhood in for a good time. Both their children, Jenn (Amber Heard) and Mick (Ben Hollingsworth), are instantly well liked by every clique in school. Behind their sparkling smiles and successful livelihood, is a deep secret about why they are there. SPOILER: They are salesmen implanted by a large corporation to show off the newest products to their wealthy neighbors so they too will purchase them.

David Duchovny is the ultimate everyman. He is instantly likeable in almost every role. This one is no different. There is a cold and a "manufactured" quality to the other three family members that Duchovny does not share. Usually, this would be a bad thing, but here, it is a calculated move empahsizing their true nature and Duchovny's rookie status. Their neighbor, played by Gary Cole, is the ultimate tragic suburban hero. He would do anything for his wife including continuing a facade of higher social standing than they can actually afford.While the family drives the story, Cole drives the drama.

The filmmakers did not bury the lead. The twist regarding the family's true nature is revealed very early on to the audience. Withholding the reveal could have added some interesting character interactions that would be darkly funny and maybe even disturbing, but ultimately could have dragged the movie immensely. Instead, the movie becomes about how these people relate to each other within the structure they have been implanted in.

There is something to be said about consumer culture in this movie. The philosophy that "he who dies with the most toys wins" comes under fire as Cole desperately tries to keep up with the ever changing possessions of The Joneses despite his struggling finances. It almost seems admirable to make such allegations in a country run by its capitalist economy. Any attempts at being interesting seems clouded by the obilgatory Hollywood love story the emerges between Steve and Kate. They were an honest attempt at depicting what really matters, but there chemistry never seemed to evolve beyond co-workers.

The Joneses is a decent made dramedy that tries to stay socially relevant, but it falls short on its message and unsatisfying conclusion.

6/10