REVIEW: ‘Role Play’ Doesn’t Hit

Role Play (2024), directed by Thomas Vincent and written by Seth Owen, features a star-studded cast, including Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, Connie Nielsen, and Bill Nighy. Set in the suburbs of New Jersey, the film follows Emma (Kaley Cuoco), a woman with a seemingly perfect life—married to a wonderful husband and raising two kids. However, her idyllic exterior conceals a clandestine profession as a hired assassin. This revelation surfaces when Emma and her husband, Dave (David Oyelowo), attempt to inject excitement into their marriage through a bit of role-play.

The film kicks off with Emma, having just completed a contract killing mission, swiftly shedding her international assassin guise to morph into a loving career woman returning to her family. As she arrives home, viewers get a glimpse of her weaving a web of lies about a supposed business trip to Nebraska. However, the carefully constructed facade begins to crack when it is unveiled that Emma has forgotten her own seventh wedding anniversary—the initial misstep in a series of errors jeopardizing her carefully maintained cover. The stakes escalate when Emma’s formidable skills propel her onto the most wanted list.

Foremost among the Role Play‘s strengths is Kaley Cuoco’s exceptional performance. It’s strong whether she is portraying the nurturing mother, the cunning assassin, or even a woman skillfully deflecting unwanted attention at a bar. Cuoco goes above and beyond in carrying the weight of a script that might otherwise be considered weak. And she does all this while showcasing her potential for future action roles.

While she doesn’t need to prove herself, she effortlessly embodies the role of a contract killer, utilizing her intelligence to outmaneuver those who threaten her, all while being able to hold her own in physical confrontations when necessary. The film could benefit from more opportunities for Cuoco to showcase her action prowess throughout rather than compressing it predominantly into the third act.

As the narrative unfolds, the true essence of Emma becomes elusive as she seamlessly oscillates between her maternal and assassin selves. It becomes evident that the dual life is straining her relationships with Dave and her children, creating a precarious balancing act. This tension becomes increasingly palpable, particularly when Emma crosses paths with Bob Kellerman (Bill Nighy).

Unfortunately, the dynamic interaction with Bill Nighy’s character may have been too captivating for the film’s own good. Nighy steals every scene he graces, skillfully playing off Kaley Cuoco’s performance. As Bob, the astute individual who identifies Emma as a contract killer, he engages in a coy game of “I know who you are” in the presence of Dave. Bob emerges as a compelling antagonist, avoiding the typical imposing villain trope. Instead, he leverages his seasoned experience as a contract killer, using his elderly disposition to his advantage.

This dynamic sets the stage for a captivating exploration of the action-comedy genre, reminiscent of Mr. and Mrs. Smith and, even more recently, The Family Plan. Rather than opting for a straightforward bounty collection, Bob takes a unique approach—he seeks to extort Emma for the substantial earnings from her missions, a plot point hinted at throughout the film. However, the film unexpectedly shifts focus by swiftly placing Dave at the forefront of discovering Emma’s secret, abandoning the potential richness of the dynamic between Emma and Bob. This sudden shift diminishes the potential tension and complexity established in their interaction, leaving viewers longing for a more sustained exploration of the compelling dynamic between Emma and her would-be extortionist.

The revelation of Emma’s identity as a contract killer unfolds disappointingly late in the film, and the delivery lacks the desired impact. The exposition feels forced and lacking in depth, particularly considering the meticulous attention to detail in scenes where Emma seamlessly juggles her roles as a mother and an assassin. Dave’s limited involvement in deducing Emma’s secret, coupled with their emotional distance following the ill-fated attempt to revitalize their marriage through role play, makes their ability to survive as a couple questionable.

Dave’s detachment from Emma for a significant portion of the film raises concerns about the believability of their eventual reconciliation. The separation makes it challenging to envision a seamless resolution to their relationship when the truth finally emerges, creating a potential struggle to achieve a satisfying and believable happy ending by the film’s conclusion. Oyelowo’s commendable performance cannot fully compensate for the narrative’s missed opportunity to explore the intricacies of their relationship. Role Play (2024) falls short in capitalizing on the duo’s dynamic, leaving viewers longing for a more extensive exploration of their connection and a deeper understanding of how they navigate the challenges that Emma’s hidden life causes.

Role Play (2024) initially offers a compelling twist on a familiar premise. Unfortunately, the film gives in to predictability as it progresses. By the third act, a glaring absence of a solid, well-defined villain or conflict emerges, leaving the narrative lacking a clear antagonist or a potential twist to elevate the plot. This missing piece threatens to cast Emma as the unwitting antagonist, as her actions persistently jeopardize her family.

Despite the film’s establishment of her as a skilled and accomplished contract killer, it also blames her. The eventual unveiling of the villain lacks the necessary time and depth to deliver the emotional impact the film aspires to achieve. Emma’s limited interaction with both the antagonists and her family diminishes the potential for a satisfying resolution. That then leaves viewers wanting more connection between pivotal characters to make sense of it.

Most importantly, the gaslighting Emma employs to justify the seven years of lies to Dave raises questions about the moral compass of her character. The film struggles to clearly define whether Emma falls into the category of a “good” assassin or merely a regular killer. This then makes it challenging for the audience to buy into the justification for the secrecy. Dave’s prolonged ignorance throughout the movie further complicates the believability of his eventual support for Emma. Ultimately, Role Play fails to establish a solid foundation for his understanding and acceptance of her actions. This lack of clarity detracts from the film’s overall impact, leaving the resolution feeling unearned and difficult to resonate with.

While Kaley Cuoco, David Oyelowo, and Bill Nighy deliver commendable performances, the Role Play (2024) grapples with a significant drawback: it lacks impact. The major reveals they feel excessively expositional, lacking the gradual buildup that would have added a heart to the narrative. What begins with a promising first act ultimately fails to deliver the emotional payoff needed to distinguish itself from similar films exploring the secret identity motif. Fortunately, the film’s relatively brief hour-and-a-half runtime means viewers can swiftly move through the experience, even if they’re only thinking about what could have been.

Role Play (2024) is out now, streaming exclusively on Prime Video.