Back in Action follows former CIA spies Emily and Matt as they are pulled back into espionage after their secret identities are exposed.

This has some of the problems of a usual Netflix Original film — a script we’ve seen a dozen times before, average acting and at-times distracting effects. However… Back in Action is different. The flick opens with an absurdly over-the-top action sequence to set the tone for the film — turn your brain off and you’ll have fun. This same energy carries through the rest of the 114-minute runtime.

Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx’s chemistry is established early on. For the most part their relationship works, but it also feels like they’re both phoning it in at times. McKenna Roberts’ Alice, Rylan Jackson’s Leo and Glenn Close’s Ginny are really the emotional anchor of Back in Action. It’s the family dynamic that is at the heart of the movie, and while this is over-focused on at times, it still is able to keep the film grounded.

Back in Action really has it all — hand-to-hand combat, gun fights and car/motorcycle/boat chases. Several of these are extremely large-scale, while also featuring unique and funny ways to make them stand out. This really surprised me with how well-shot and well-choreographed the fight scenes were.

Despite all of its charm, Back in Action is riddled with clichés. The middle stages of the flick begin to drag, as it almost feels like it is checking boxes to compare to similar movies in the genre. It also features several twists and turns that failed to surprise me.

If this would’ve been 15-20 minutes shorter, Back in Action could’ve been an early gem in 2025. Instead, it’s just… average. There are many other movies like this, but it still does enough to differentiate itself. Full of high-intensity action sequences and a lot of laughs, Back in Action works. If you want to throw a movie on with friends, you’ll probably have a good time — you just may forget about it by the next morning.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5