VOD film review: The Joneses
Review Overview
Satire
8Sentiment
5David Farnor | On 31, Mar 2017
Director: Derrick Borte
Cast: David Duchovny, Demi Moore, Amber Heard, Gary Cole, Ben Hollingsworth
Certificate: 15
Watch The Joneses online in the UK: Amazon Prime / Apple TV (iTunes) / Prime Video (Buy/Rent) / TalkTalk TV / Google Play
Meet Steve Jones (Duchovny). He’s a charming, handsome man with a flashy car. His flashy wife, Kate (Moore), is equally glamorous with designer clothes and the latest in running gear. Their kids, too, are drenched in money – Mick (Hollingsworth) owns all the shiniest gadgets and Jenn (Heard) shows off her lipstick at school. Together, The Joneses live in their luxury house. They are a model family. They have everything. They buy nothing. And they get paid by commission.
“We’re going to do some damage here,” declares Steve at the start of the film, rolling up the drive to their brand new home. And indeed they do. Carving out popular niches in the local community, it’s not long before the neighbours are hanging on their every purchase – a living sham of product placement, whatever The Joneses have, everyone else wants.
But as percentages rise, so do the screenplay’s morals. As the film’s chief source of irony, Duchovny soon displays doubts about his chosen career path. Is it right to prey on society’s greed? Moore doesn’t care – she does a wonderful job as the formidable and determined saleswoman, holding together a household of moderate supporting roles; both young actors are decent enough, but their storylines aren’t brilliant (Amber Heard has to play the dubious part of a teen with a taste for older men).
Still, the surface sheen has a certain style that the cast channel perfectly. The problem is the syrupy ending that debut writer/director Derrick Borte dunks it all in. What starts off as a blunt, effective comment on consumerism becomes a bit too sentimental, which then jeopardises the romantic spark between Moore and Duchovny; they make a good couple, but it works better when they’re pulling profit margins, not heart strings.
Shot through with witty takes on advertising and the media (an industry Borte knows well), The Joneses starts off with a strong level of ambiguity. A darkly comic look at the American Dream, it’s a nice cinematic companion to Mad Men. But for all of Duchovny’s crinkly charisma, his character is no Don Draper.
The Joneses is available to watch online on Amazon Prime Video as part of a Prime membership or a £5.99 monthly subscription.