BACK IN ACTION

The film’s title sounds ordinary but speaks volume, specially if you grew up watching Charlie’s Angels. The only thing that got me interested about the film is the casting of Cameron Diaz. If I’m not mistaken, this is her first acting gig following her retirement in 2014. It’s good seeing Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx back in action (pun intended). Though Foxx had been active in the industry doing other movies but mostly his roles were not as active as he was in this, with fight choreography and others. Directed by Seth Gordon, known for directing good TV series and also for Horrible Bosses, which he also worked with Foxx.

Released on January of 2025 and distributed by Netflix, this action-packed comedy-filled family-friendly (but PG-13) film is a must see in my opinion. Specially for millenials like me, the references were golden. I also loved how they showed how much they weren’t ready to start a family, even when they have 2 kids already, it’s like they’re still figuring stuff out as the kids grow. And that process was funny as hell, the way Diaz handles her daughter’s hatred towards her, and how Foxx downplays it and when he sees Diaz not agreeing with him, he switches back and now he’s on Diaz’s corner.

I don’t think I’ve seen a lackluster performance from Diaz, ever. If there was, most probably it was due to poor screenplay and it would feel awkward for her to act it out. An actor/actress is only as good as the material they read. Her smile was a beautiful as always, ever since Charlie’s Angels, that was her trademark look. For me, it wasn’t because she was hot, it’s because of her smile. Really iconic and I don’t think I’ve seen any other actress have that kind of smile, or even remotely similar to hers. She’s better in action/comedy movies in my opinion.

Foxx was still active in the industry, but more on office roles, more on the verbal side of things, even for the Spiderman No Way Home, I couldn’t say he had an active of a role as he had here. He’s a good actor, not going to lie, but not someone I could take seriously, not sure why though, but every movie he’s been in, it felt like he’s going to say a joke, or something funny, and it stuck with him, much like John Cena’s stern-firm military-like demeanor but jokes a lot.

Both child actors, McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson here were great. Recently, young actors are becoming underwhelming, as the ones from The Deliverance, it was so bad that it felt like the film could perform better without them. Other supporting characters were great to see as well.
Special mention to Glenn Close, who again, gave a stellar performance. She made an impact, even though she appeared in the mid-latter part of the movie.

Music was great, while they fight off the terrorists and whatnot using a variety of dangerous methods that kids should definitely avoid trying at home, classic smooth needle drops play in the background. The action escalates to increasingly outrageous levels, featuring everything from a gas station flamethrower to a high-speed boat chase over the Thames River barrier.

Back in Action is a fun film for the family and a trip down memory lane for Cameron Diaz fans, even though its a one-time watch kind of a film, its still worth it.