Back in Action (2025)

Release Date: January 17, 2025
Director: Seth Gordon
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Glenn Close

Let’s set the scene: It’s Friday night. I’ve cracked open a few cold ones, scrolled through Netflix like a bored teenager, and stumbled upon Back in Action. Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz? Together again after Annie? I thought, Well, why not? Worst case, I’d get some laughs and maybe a decent explosion. Spoiler alert: I got both, but not quite how I expected.

Domestic Life, But Make It Spy

The premise is familiar enough to feel like déjà vu. Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz star as Matt and Emily, former spies who fell in love on a botched mission 15 years ago. They left the world of espionage behind for suburban Atlanta, where they now live a perfectly boring existence with their kids: surly teenager Alice (McKenna Roberts), whose favorite hobbies include rolling her eyes and sneaking out, and rule-following tech-obsessed tween Leo (Rylan Jackson). Think PTA meetings, soccer practices, and the occasional midlife crisis.

But because retired spies can never truly retire (Hollywood law), their quiet life gets blown to bits when their former boss (played by Kyle Chandler) shows up on their doorstep with bad news: they’ve been compromised. And so, in what is absolutely no one’s surprise, they’re forced to—wait for it—get back in action. Their mission? Retrieve a McGuffin-y doodad that can cause mass power outages and was lost during the botched mission that brought them together. You know, the usual.

Of course, the kids get dragged into the chaos and discover their parents are way cooler than they thought. What follows is basically a big-budget Spy Kids with a midlife crisis twist.

Jamie Foxx Doing Jamie Foxx Things

Let’s talk about Foxx. The man is a charisma machine, and as Matt, he leans hard into his blend of badass spy and tired dad energy. He’s cracking jokes while dodging bullets, awkwardly parenting teenagers, and delivering the occasional laugh-out-loud line (his Jason Bourne quip? Gold). Foxx knows exactly what kind of movie he’s in and plays it with an effortless cool that carries a lot of the runtime.

Cameron Diaz: A Welcome Return

Diaz’s comeback as Emily, Matt’s equally capable partner, is solid, bringing that sunny, go-for-broke energy that made her a star, with sharp comedic timing to match. Watching her balance espionage with motherhood, especially in a standout scene involving a nosy neighbor and a hidden arsenal in the garage, is entertaining.

But let’s talk about the chemistry between Foxx and Diaz. It’s clear they’ve built a great rapport over the years, particularly from their previous work in Annie and other collaborations. Their natural ease with each other makes their partnership feel genuine, even as the script leans into shrieky arguments and heavy exposition.

The Kids Save the Day (Sort Of)

The movie’s saving grace, surprisingly, is the dynamic with the kids. Alice and Leo, played by McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson, bring some much-needed comic relief and emotional depth. Alice is the classic angsty teen who’s perpetually unimpressed by her parents, while Leo’s techie skills end up playing a key role in the mission. The film does a decent job of capturing that classic parent-teen tension, and Roberts and Jackson’s performances are charming enough to make you wish the movie spent more time exploring this dynamic.

Glenn Close and Andrew Scott: Wasted Potential

Glenn Close steps in as Emily’s estranged mother, a former spy herself who still knows her way around a fight scene. Close is perfectly cast—she brings gravitas and a sly humor to the role—but unfortunately, she’s underutilized. Her scenes are too few and far between, leaving you wanting more of her cutting remarks and badassery.

Then there’s Andrew Scott (aka Hot Priest from Fleabag), who plays an MI6 agent on Emily’s trail. Scott is one of the most compelling actors working today, but here? He’s given almost nothing to do. His character feels like an afterthought, and he looks visibly bored every time he’s on screen. It’s a massive missed opportunity, and as the film drags on, you’ll find yourself relating to Scott’s energy a little too much.

Explosions, Ironic Music, and Over-the-Top Action

The action sequences are flashy, if not particularly innovative. There’s a shootout at a British gas station set to Etta James’ “At Last,” a brawl at the Tate Modern set to James Brown’s “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” and a private jet fight choreographed to Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.” At first, the ironic song choices are kind of fun, but by the third scene, it’s more groan-worthy than clever.

The film’s attempts to overwhelm with elaborate chases and fights ultimately feel hollow. Sure, it’s fun to watch Matt and Emily kick butt while bickering like an old married couple, but the stakes never feel real, and the emotional core of the story gets buried under all the noise.

The Verdict: Fun, but Forgettable

At the end of the day, Back in Action feels like a collection of missed opportunities. Foxx and Diaz are individually great but lack the spark needed to carry a movie like this. Glenn Close and Andrew Scott are wasted in underdeveloped roles. And while the humor and family dynamics occasionally shine, the over-reliance on tired action-comedy tropes drags the whole thing down.

Would I recommend it? Only if you’re in the mood for something light and don’t mind a side of cringe with your popcorn. It’s entertaining enough for a lazy weekend, but don’t expect it to stick with you after the credits roll.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 10 stars)

Until next time, keep your beers cold, your Netflix queue full, and your expectations reasonable. Cheers! 🍺