The Joneses - 2010

Director: Derrick Borte

Writer: Derrick Borte

Starring: David Duchovny, Demi Moore, Gary Cole

Derrick Borte's debut film, The Joneses tells the tale of a seemingly normal (yet affluent) suburban family with father Steve (Duchovny), mother Kate (Moore) and kids Jenn and Mick. However, the "family" is really a front for a multinational marketing company, unknowingly (to the outsiders) pushing every product that they wear or use to those around them. Things take a turn when the "husband" starts to become dissatisfied with his life of deception and yearns for a genuine family existence.

Much like Up in the Air, this movie wouldn't have worked as well were it to have been made even a few years in the past, but there's much more to it than being in the right place in the right time. Both Duchovny and Moore turn out to be a lot better actors than I had anticipated, and it's good to see them working again. Even Gary Cole, who plays a neighbor (though best remembered as boss Bill Lumbergh from Office Space), hasn't really been heard from since portraying the villain in 2008's Pineapple Express. The script is mostly well-written (although the person I saw it with predicted a twist or two), with much of the dialogue sounding like it could come straight out of a commercial, but I didn't think the film explained its overall concept in the beginning as well as the trailer had done. All in all, though, I'd definitely recommend seeing this one while you can.