Review: Cuoco & Oyelowo’s ‘Role Play’ Film is Not a Bad Start to 2024

Review: Cuoco & Oyelowo’s ‘Role Play’ Film is Not a Bad Start to 2024

by Manuel São Bento
January 12, 2024

Within the world of cinema, expectations can be both a boon and a bane. As I settled down on my couch to watch Role Play, a film with a fun premise featuring some entertainment potential, I braced myself for a straightforward, formulaic escapade, fully aware that the very best I could possibly get would be a harmless, enjoyable time. Fueling my interest was the allure of Kaley Cuoco in the lead role, whose memorable performance in The Big Bang Theory – one of my favorite sitcoms – had me eager to witness her versatility in an action comedy. What unfolded on the screen was precisely what I expected, for better or worse. Role Play doesn’t tell a story we haven’t seen before within its mix of the spy, thriller, action, and comedy genres.

Emma (starring Kaley Cuoco) and Dave (co-starring David Oyelowo) have a seemingly perfect life as a couple married for seven years and counting. However, Emma leads a secret life that Dave knows nothing about, hiding the fact that she is working as an international assassin for hire with a bounty on her head. Screenwriters Andrew Baldwin and Seth W. Owen’s script doesn’t deviate from the usual spy-action formulas, being a pretty predictable, by-the-numbers flick with a consistently warm tone.

As the narrative unfolds, laughter remains elusive, but engagement is sustained through director Thomas Vincent’s (director of the films Karnaval, Mister Bob, The New Life of Paul Sneijder) brisk pace. Despite unimaginative, generic storytelling, Role Play has its ideas executed with commendable efficiency. Tonally, I can’t complain about it being misleading or inconsistent since it keeps the silly, inoffensive atmosphere all the way through. It’s not really remarkable in any single aspect, but it fulfills its intended purpose.

Let’s dive into the performances in Role Play – Cuoco and Oyelowo are both quite competent, injecting the necessary chemistry, banter, and romance into the narrative. This lead actress, in particular, has a strong, charming presence. Still, a lingering disappointment arises when I realize that her emotional range remains largely untapped. Cuoco possesses a nuanced ability to delve into deeper feelings effortlessly, leaving me yearning for a more emotionally charged portrayal, but the dialogue never allows for that display.

In contrast, the supporting cast struggles to break free from shackles of uninspired, bland representations. The exception to this is the ever-charismatic Bill Nighy playinhg Bob, who graces the screen with a few captivating, amusing minutes in the best sequence of Role Play. Unfortunately, the overall impact of the rest of the cast is tainted by the clunky dialogue that hampers their potential to shine. In addition to this, as with any film, minor logical nitpicks arise about the protagonist’s motivations and the delayed occurrence of certain plot points. These gaps, while noticeable, don’t derail the general enjoyment, especially considering the movie’s light-hearted nature. It’s the kind of flick that discourages a deep analytical dive, as it sets out to deliver precisely what it promised, even if it’s just borrowing from hundreds of films that came before.

Therefore, I anticipate that Role Play will lead to viewers, including critics, falling into the trap of watching the movie based on what they think it should be like instead of interpreting it based on what the director, screenwriters, producers, and cast actually created. Viewers who may wish for the premise to take a darker, bloodier, violent path that the creators never even thought to explore will inevitably end up disappointed, despite every single marketing element clearly depicting the film’s obviously comedic tone, steering clear of any deceptive promises. It’s a family-friendly mystery-spy-thriller-comedy that embraces all these elements without taking itself too seriously. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Final Thoughts

Role Play follows expectations, both good and bad. While the main performances, particularly from Kaley Cuoco, breathe life into the characters, most of the supporting cast falls prey to uninspired dialogue. The narrative, though formulaic and predictable, maintains a rather lively pace, ensuring a sustained interest. As a few other issues emerge, these are somewhat compensated by the filmmaker’s commitment to providing a light-hearted, fun, entertaining movie that aims to offer families a good time without much seriousness.

Manuel’s Rating: B-
Follow Manuel on Twitter – @msbreviews / Or Letterboxd – @msbreviews

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