Role Play, Amazon’s latest action thriller, gets the less-than-ideal designation of being one of the first movies released in 2024. A January (or “Dumpuary”) release date isn’t often a good thing for a movie. The studio may not have high hopes for it, so they want to dump it and get it off the books. Let it get forgotten about as the awards season for the previous year really kicks into gear.

There are always exceptions, of course. Just last year, Plane came out at this same time, and I had a blast with it, as did most audiences. But in any event, expectations for January movies are usually pretty low. But that also leaves room for some nice surprises, if a movie can be even “okay,” that’s likely more than you were expecting. So with that, how does Role Play fare?

Role Play Plot

On the surface, Emma (Kaley Cuoco) and Dave (David Oyelowo) have a great life. Two lovely kids, good jobs, house in the suburbs. But behind that American Dream facade, Emma has a dark secret that not even her husband knows: she’s an international assassin for hire. And not only that, she has a bounty on her head, placed there by her former employer. When Emma and David decide to spice things up for their anniversary with a little *ahem* role play, things take a turn as Emma’s cover is blown, and her past comes rushing back, upending her and Dave’s life.

The Critique

Role Play isn’t necessarily a bad movie. It’s just that it’s so bland and forgettable. It doesn’t make a single interesting choice anywhere along the way. And it’s a shame. The basic setup could allow for a fun, thrilling action adventure. An international assassin on the run lends itself to globe trotting adventures, with shootouts, fight scenes, car chases. Role Play barely has any of that. There are only a couple of (extremely) short fight scenes, nothing special. There’s a car chase, but it’s about as unexciting as you can make a car chase.

Okay then, fine. Lean into the thriller aspect, make it a cat-and-mouse game between Emma and those hunting her down. But again, it falters there too. It doesn’t have the story to maintain that level of intrigue, even at its modest 100 minute runtime.

Everything Role Play does is basic and surface level. It doesn’t have to reinvent the genre (an unfair ask of any movie, to be fair). But at least go for something. Give us some signature moment or scene. Something an audience can look back on after watching and go “How cool/funny/exciting was it when…” I’d much rather a movie take big swings and come up short than do what Role Play does here…which is basically nothing. Everything it does is done competently, but there are very few aspects you won’t forget the minute the credits start to roll.

There are a couple positives though. Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo are fine in the leads, especially Cuoco. She’s a gifted comedic actress and even has experience in this kind of role, with Max’s The Flight Attendant. Role Play isn’t a funny movie, but there are a handful of lines or scenes where it feels like the movie means them to be jokes. But they’re simply not structured as jokes.It’s supposed to be the characters’ line readings or reactions that convey the humor.

Cuoco succeeds some here, solely on the back of her natural talents. There’s nothing inherently funny about anything she says or does. But she’s a good enough actress that she can make a few of these moments funny simply with her delivery.

The biggest bright spot is Bill Nighy, who shows up for an all-too-quick appearance. He provides brevity and lightheartedness the movie could have used a lot more of. It’s all quite enjoyable while he’s on screen, but there’s a distinct shift in tone when he leaves, and the movie is never able to recapture that feeling.

Also read: Society of the Snow Review – A Harrowing, Miraculous Tale of Human Perseverance

In Conclusion

Role Play is an action comedy thriller with minimal action, few laughs, and even fewer thrills. It’s competently made, but that’s the best thing you can say about the filmmaking. It’s bland and surface level across the board, only partially saved by solid performances from Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, and Bill Nighy. It won’t be the worst movie you see this year, but sadly it’s another typical, forgettable January release.

4/10

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