“Role Play,” featuring Kaley Cuoco as Emma and David Oyelowo as Dave, struggles to find its footing in a genre that demands both emotional depth and thrilling action. The film opens with a glimpse into the strained domestic life of Emma, who leads a double existence as a mother and a secret assassin. However, the script by Seth W. Owens fails to establish a solid emotional ground, causing the narrative to proceed in a disjointed manner. The plot rushes from one scene to another, barely allowing the audience to digest the storyline before being thrust into the next sequence of events.
We needed more Bob. That’s all I’ll say.
The movie aims to be an engaging action-comedy but falls short in delivering the excitement and humor it promises. Oyelowo, as Dave, manages to elicit a few laughs with his witty remarks, but Cuoco’s performance, although capable in emotional scenes, seems out of sync with the film’s tone. The action scenes, intended to showcase Emma’s prowess, are underwhelming and poorly edited, making them appear sluggish and unimpressive. The lack of chemistry between the leads further diminishes the film’s impact, rendering the stakes and the narrative’s purpose insignificant.
Furthermore, the world-building and character relationships are inadequately developed. The film fails to capitalize on the potential intensity of Emma’s predicament as a hunted assassin, leaving much to be desired in terms of suspense and engagement. The action sequences, which are crucial to this genre, are lackluster, contributing to the overall feeling that the film is more of a preliminary effort rather than a polished final product.
Compounding these issues, the premiere was plagued by audio problems, detracting from the viewing experience. The slow and uninspiring action scenes failed to captivate, leaving much to be desired from a film that had the potential to be both emotionally resonant and exciting. Available now on Prime Video, “Role Play” ultimately disappoints, unable to fulfill its ambitious premise.
