Film Press Review | Keeping Up with the Joneses

10.19.2016 – There have been memorable comedy films that mix it up with action and suspense. Then there are films that tried to capture that moment but in the long run things might not turn up as what you expected to be. “Keeping up with the Joneses” is that sort of fun film that try to be what the title is and at the same time going the extra mile for making it a movie that you’ll find the entertainment value featuring an ensemble cast that found its chemistry. But there’s more than just a film about family relations that made it watchable.

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched “Keeping Up with the Joneses” you have to stop reading this review, but if you want to know if this film is worth watching and don’t care for the plot reveals proceed with caution.

For most part of the premise its “Keeping up with the Joneses,” but when you look at it from the opening credits the Gaffneys are the family that has been focused on with the talented chemistry of Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher being the lead as noticeable in the trailers.



The Joneses may have a perfect life, but the Gaffneys are the one that capture the viewers’ attention. Because they’re not perfect and relatable to how their boring lives happen in a suburb of pretentious residents. In reality you get that even worse, but here it seems interesting in the big screen how some try to be a better part of a very small community. The spotlight is one Jeff Gaffney (Galifianakis) who has a simple job as a HR dealing with office issues. The keen observant and pretty much trying to go about the day as the husband to Karen (Fisher), who works from home an interior designer for bathrooms that’s not your going to expect.

Time and Natalie Jones are not your typical neighbors which obviously seen in scenes that they look ‘too perfect’ at the same time out of the usual suburban neighbourhood. Gal Gadot serious roles but here she still makes the audience funny, while Jon Hamm he has the same style of comedy which is why their chemistry works.



But despise the talented ensemble the film lacked what make it work, which is the story to itself. The best reveal for the big bad was reserved to the final act which made it smaller than the man himself. Patton Oswalt is some how like the deal breaker that you’d never expect and literally a spoiler if you didn’t read the first part of this review. The talented Oswalt plays a villain but this film wastes his talents, but for a small role it was almost a scene stealer just that the minions around him are just dumbfounded on whom he really was until they found out his real name.

Overall the cast and chemistry made it watchable, but the story really failed to have something that can be a good conversation point. The narrative had failed to live up what the title was and this is how the verdict ended blowing up the neighbourhood.

“Keeping Up with the Joneses” now playing in Philippine cinemas starting October 19, 2016 from 20th Century Fox!

RATED: 3 out of 5 Stars

NOTE: This film is screened privately in advance by invitation from 20th Century Fox. This is reviewed and rated personally to build interest about the film.