In a film that could have easily fallen victim to its own genre trappings, Game Night is aware of exactly what it is and embraces every second of it. John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein bring a funny and fresh direction to the table, and a stellar ensemble cast spearheaded by Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman holds it all together. It's not a perfect movie, but the best part is that it's not trying to be-instead, it's thoughtful, unpredictable, and most importantly, a lot of fun.

The film follows married couple Max (Bateman) and Annie (McAdams) who are just about reaching that stage where they want to bring a kid into the picture. They haven't been getting the best results, and Annie suggests that it might be the stress of sibling comparison seeing as Max's older brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler), is headed into town. The group get together for a game night with Max and Annie's friends (played by Billy Magnussen, Lamorne Morris, and Kylie Bunbury). Their policeman neighbour, Gary (Jesse Plemons), is somewhat disapproving of this get-together not having been invited, but he hasn't exactly been the life of the party since his ex-wife divorced him. They meet again the following week for a game night at the house Brooks is renting, where the group partakes in a live-action murder mystery game-but the lines between fiction and reality soon become blurred.

In a story that could have easily gone south, Daley and Goldstein keep things creative throughout the duration of the film. Not only does the plot itself take several fairly unpredictable turns, but the camerawork is also quite unique for this style of film: transition scenes include bird's-eye shots that make the town look like a board game, and there's a terrific single long-take action shot where it isn't too clear whether the protagonists will complete their goal with success or failure until it has ended.

The film's humour was also incredibly well-suited to its subject matter, often mixing in a touch of black comedy. However, it never dangerously veers off into borderline drama and therefore corniness, even when the events themselves are pretty intense. That being said, the jokes never feel ridiculously silly or venture into that raunchiness that so many poor comedies boast as if it's necessary rather than debilitating. From the film's trailer, it's quite easy to write it off as probably being one of these movies, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

But the force that gives Game Night its ability to strike this wonderful comedic balance is the strength of its performances. Bateman and McAdams deliver delightful performances and really exude the aura of a believable married couple. They just made it make sense. The supporting cast was also pretty great, with a hilarious performance from Plemons, who provides each line with such a serious tone that it's hard to avoid bursting out with laughter every time he speaks.

The movie has its flaws, but if you're in the mood for something light and funny that won't completely destroy your brain cells, Game Night is solidly entertaining and a perfect fit.