A tightly scripted, modern R-rated comedy. None of that letting the actors ad lib everything and running with the best take approach that seems to be becoming the norm these days. Not that there aren't some fantastic improvised, spur of the moment style comedies out there. It's just that too often they suffer from the unrestrained personalities of their stars, which leads to a lack of focus and consistency in the humor. By giving the actors their dialog and firmly controlling the flow of the jokes, Game Night feels like something of a rarity. The real strength is how well the story is handled. It sounds like just another comedy where average people inadvertently find themselves in extraordinary circumstances that place them squarely out of their depth, and for the most part it is. However the well-crafted twists, turns, and scenarios give it an extra exciting edge. It's also the first mainstream R-rated film that actually knows how to handle guns and danger in ways that don't just feel excessive or unnecessary. I wasn't a huge fan of the subplot about the core protagonist's struggle with having a baby as it really added nothing to the mix and felt cliché. Luckily, this is the only dramatic sour spot to be found. The third act twist is a bit much and is where the film (knowingly) jumps the shark into straight out action movie fare. The only other complaint I have is surprisingly Rachel McAdams. You can tell this isn't the kind of movie she's used to doing as she has a hard time playing such a comedic role without completely hamming it up every time she's forced to be funny (which is all the time). Everyone else onscreen naturally slips into the style. Her not so much. Game Night's inconsistencies can't keep it from being a laugh riot though. There is a nearly constant stream of incredibly clever gags to be found throughout. Some of the lines are pure gold and totally quotable. You won't find any of the overused chuckle tricks every other comedy with an R rating is using these days like accidental hardcore drug use or anything like that. No, this movie is original, inventive, and oh so fresh. So definitely give it a watch.