Surprising as it may seem, despite the writer and director's previous works, Game Night pops and sparkles with a bit of freshness. The story is pretty much David Fincher's The Game meets midlife adult board game night, but the Perez's writing is pretty tight, and his script is teeming with zippy quips and witty dialogue wrapped in scene after scene of absurd, non-reality scenarios that lend themselves to the comedy. The shining quality of Game Night's writing, however, is how it effectively sets up the characters, and how it calls back and delivers on its previously set up jokes, like the Denzel Washington "encounter". The direction is also crisp and energetic, giving the film a decent amount of stylish charm that sets it apart visually from other comedies — the best instance being the establishing shots that take on the presence of The Game of Life.

The cast is truly the film's bread and butter, and Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams shine at the forefront. Very rarely do I feel like Bateman's talents are fully utilized (like they are in Arrested Development), but Game Night pegs Bateman accurately, which results in one of his best performances to date, and even provides him with an adequate counterpart in McAdams, who shows she's just as quick-witted and capable of dishing it back. They share real chemistry together that leaps off the screen and prove that they should team up for string of other projects. Bateman and McAdams make Game Night fun and charming, but the supporting cast make up a majority of the big laughs.