Mar 30, 2018
Today’s movie is “Game Over, Man!” (2018), the Netflix Original comedy directed by Kyle Newacheck, written for the screen by Anders Holm, based on a story developed with Adam Devine and Blake Anderson. The film follows three degenerate hotel workers named Alexxx (with three X’s) (Adam DeVine), Joel (Blake Anderson) and Darren (Anders Holm), who are trapped inside a hotel taken hostage by a group of terrorists.
Buckle up, kids. We’re going on a rant. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum, but I found this film to be awful, a product of giving too much money and freedom to a creative team in an effort to recreate the magic of their previous success. And if you weren’t a fan of “Workaholics”, then there’s probably absolutely nothing in this film for you. Just wanted to get that out there before getting started.
What is it about this film I hate so much? Is it the derivative screenplay, a mash-up of a modern-day, drug-addled Three Stooges somehow taking on a Die Hard terrorist situation? Is it the escalating use of shocking vulgarity that seems to be a checklist of gags and jokes they couldn’t use on basic cable? Is it the over-reliance on cameos? Is it the lack of sensitivity about gay characters and exploitation of gay tropes from the 1980s and 1990s?
I get it. It’s supposed to be a raunchy comedy. I don’t mind vulgar comedy, but it needs the right context and to be appropriate for the times. Most of these jokes feel too privileged, either taking too many liberties, lacking context, poorly executed, or sometimes all three. Perhaps that was the target audience for “Workaholics”, but I don’t think that same chemistry translated into this film.
“Game Over, Man!” (2018) is a raunchy, farcical take on “Die Hard”, full of dick jokes and escalating vulgarity. The film has some fun moments but many more flaws and problems. For me, the only good thing about this film is that I didn’t have to pay for it, but I still will never get that hour and forty minutes back. Watch at your own risk.
Rotten Tomatoes: 0%
Metacritic: 32
One Movie Punch: 2.6/10
“Game Over, Man!” (2018) is rated TV-MA and is streaming on Netflix.