At instances a household drama and others an action-comedy, “Position Play” misses the chance to lean into any of its intentions. Seth W. Owens’ script drops us into the center of the couple’s home unease from the leap, and regardless of not making an effort to construct any emotional basis within the movie’s introduction, the plot lurches ahead and not using a second thought. It solely sticks with its lineup of set items lengthy sufficient to supply sufficient narrative context to get the viewers by means of to the following scene. By the point we’ve processed the plot particulars, we’re thrown into the following collection of bullet factors. The consequence of this confused, jittery writing is a plot-focused dash that misses each likelihood to bask in its content material, be it motion, comedy, or coronary heart.
“Position Play” intends to be a enjoyable movie however doesn’t take any time to revel within the components that might make it so. There are just a few chuckles alongside the best way, largely from Oyelowo’s Dave, whose incredulity and desperation inside his circumstances permits a handful of witty one-liners (akin to telling Emma to “take a category” when she exclaims that killing is all she is aware of how one can do). Nonetheless, Cuoco, regardless of earlier proof of her comedic chops (“The Huge Bang Concept,” “The Flight Attendant”), feels hole. Even in scenes of proposed badassery, her efficiency falls flat. It isn’t for her lack of skill (which peeks by means of in some extra emotional scenes), however somewhat, it seems that oftentimes Cuoco’s efficiency is just incongruent with the movie she’s in. Except for one enjoyable, clubby struggle scene, the movie’s static enhancing doesn’t sustain with the motion, and makes her somersaults and punches seem like tai chi. The 2 leads additionally lack the chemistry required for emotional funding. It makes the stakes really feel inconsequential, and with that, the movie’s function.
The relationships lack craftsmanship, as does the world-building. At first, plainly Emma’s legal underworld is far-reaching, the place at any second she might bump right into a “colleague” who’s making an attempt to take her out. But there’s additionally a prolonged exposition dump afterward that implies a extra intimate origin. This sequence is purposefully obscure, solely giving one actual tidbit of data, and winking at you as if you happen to’re in some way able to inferring the remainder. Emma is meant to be on-the-run, dealing with the hazard of the syndicate’s goons at each flip, however the movie doesn’t capitalize on this paranoia or construct any depth to place meat on the bones of those confrontational moments.
An motion comedy with feeble struggle scenes and little laughs creates a movie that feels extra like a display check than a completed product. And whereas the intent of a girl prepared and keen to kill for her household supplies a wonderful automobile for each emotional and kinetic gratification, this model’s engine stalls time and time once more, by no means making it to its vacation spot.
On Prime Video now.