User reviews

The Joneses is a great mediocre movie. The idea is interesting, the cast is credible, and the film itself is totally worthwhile, but overall, it falls short in delivering what could've been a great capturing of our current culture and the way we behave as consumers.

Being in advertising, I know first hand the power of influence. Clients pay credible sources to promote a product, and product sales go up. It's a pretty simple math equation. With the advent of the Internet, bloggers, and social media, we're now seeing firsthand that consumers no longer rely on advertisements to change their behaviors, they rely on their communities. The Joneses takes this simple concept just one step further. They are a perfect family, paid to promote a lifestyle.

On paper, the Joneses are living the dream. A beautiful family with David Duchovny playing husband, Demi Moore playing wife, and two kids played by equally as attractive individuals that have everything they want and more. The twist? Everything they own, from their house to their hour de' vours, were paid for in return for a selfless promotion and subtle push of a product. With each family member responsible for a certain percentage of sales, we see dad commandeering the sale of golf clubs, brother slanging new products from Sony, sister making waves in makeup sales, and mom showcasing her newest line of shoes. It's all fake, but it works. They are living the dream, and everyone around them wants a piece of the action.

The film quickly takes a slight turn for the worse when the Joneses realize, despite all the glitz and glamor, that they really aren't so happy after all. They alienate friends, have no real family, and influence those around them to spend so much money to attain something less substantial than they already have. A few emotional scenes after another lead to the final moments of the film that prove rewarding, but at the same time, less spectacular than what was expected from such a promising premise.

All in all, the Joneses brought something new to the table, but in a way that didn't resonate too well with me or most individuals that saw it. It's a great mediocre movie, but I'm typically now in the mood to recommend mediocre regardless of how good it is. The Joneses gets two stars, I wouldn't work to hard to promote it, but in the end I'll say that it's a semi-pleasant product.

For more reviews, visit http://www.popcornjury.com

Michael Buffa-Editor, Popcorn Jury

The Jones family moves into an upscale community and everything seems perfect, but this family has an agenda.

And, they say there is nothing new under the sun. HA ! Just wait until you see this story. It's more than just keeping up with the Joneses. Much more. A new twist has been added. Maybe it was just a matter of time before we saw something like this, but the wait is over. It's here now.

When I first watched the first few minutes in the beginning, I was wary. Hey, I remember The STING and I said, "Con." But, I was wrong. It's not that. Not exactly.

The acting performances by Duchovny and Moore are seamless. Their performances are so understated and honest that you buy into and enjoy everything. Nothing is overdone. The dialogues by all the cast are also seamless and honest. No really uncomfortable moments. You know something is wrong with this family, but what? Oh, you do find out early on and when you know, then you need to see how it ends. But, after that, everything ran smoothly and I kept asking myself, "what could go wrong? what could go wrong?" And, of course, something does.

Violence: No. Sex: Not really, you just hear the sounds Nudity: Yes, briefly in the beginning. Sexual content: Yes. Teenage drinking: Yes. Language: Yes.

'The Joneses' comes across as an entertaining film that also makes the viewer aware of a thing or two regarding today's world. While many have found the idea to be a bit far-fetched, the film doesn't try to tackle more than it can handle. The way the Joneses neighbours are seduced by their lifestyle is pretty much the way most consumers feel. Nothing surprises me about the marketing strategies corporates come up with, no matter how 'amoral' it is as their primary goal is to sell more and more.

That said, I perhaps would have enjoyed 'The Joneses' more had I not seen the trailer. The trailer revealed too much of the plot and that ruins the surprise element which would have made it more interesting had the viewer experienced the unfolding of the story through the film.

Yet, it is a well made picture with well-defined characters. David Duchovny and the ravishing Demi Moore are in top form. Both deliver subtle and nuanced performances. Glenne Heady and Gary Cole provide superb support. The art direction is impressive. The Joneses house looks too good to be true but that's the point. Derrick Borte does a competent job of balancing humour and intensity. On the flip side, the ending felt a little rushed and the daughter's character was a little shoddily written.

Overall, 'The Joneses' is an entertainer that's also enlightening.

Could this really happen? Maybe not, but the consequences of today's, "The one who dies with the most toys wins!" attitude are shown to great effect in this film. Previous reviewers have said the acting wasn't up to much but I disagree and was glued to the screen all the way through. I'm amazed that The Joneses wasn't marketed more, I never saw any press about it and as a regular cinema goer definitely would have paid my eight quid. Maybe no explosions, mentions of terrorism or national security doomed it to DVD release in the UK. Not a comedy, not a thriller but something between which was sometimes dark and at others hilarious. I felt myself connecting with the main characters which, as a Brit, I don't often do in American films. Overall a good film (hence 7 out of 10) and worth ninety five minutes of your time.

It's not often you can sit down for a couple of hours of genuine entertainment and come away feeling like you've just learned a thing or two about life. Such is the deft, skillful balance achieved in "The Joneses." I won't mention a single plot point, because the less you know about this film -- other than it being an excellent film-going experience -- the more enjoyment you'll have in the theater.

It's a tribute to David Duchovny and Demi Moore that they apply their considerable skills to breathe real life into what could otherwise have been caricatures in the hands of less-talented actors. The little facial expressions, the subtle glances, the telling pauses, the body language... everything that makes film a medium of intense impact is used to tremendous effect, all expertly guided by the emerging artistry of director Derrick Borte.

It's almost impossible to be unconsciously sucked-in by these characters on the screen, in virtually the same way their celluloid neighbors are likewise seduced by everything about them. Yet, there's an underlying discord, an uncomfortable, inescapable tension that pervades the truly captivating plot and persists through genuinely amusing humor, signaling your gut that something is not quite right. It is only with the full unfolding of the plot that we come to realize just how profoundly twisted things are -- all the more disturbing because this fictional set piece is a shockingly true-to-life reflection of the world all around us.

It is genuine enlightenment to witness the choices made when the characters are ultimately forced to resolve the true issues they confront.

Undecided as to which genre of film to watch last night, I thought I'd opt for a seemingly lighthearted movie to kill some time. My feelings by the end of the film were still the same, what genre film had I just watched? If it was a romantic film it failed to make me care or be excited by the prospect of a relationship, if it was a comedy it failed to make me laugh. The film didn't make me feel any empathy for the characters and while I enjoyed the actors' performances, it fell flat on the entertainment value. I successfully predicted all the way through exactly what would happen. The film had no driving force, didn't seem to be building up to anything and the clichéd ending wasn't the closure I wanted.

However it was not all bad. It was very well shot, with beautiful sets and was visually exciting, with first class editing. It was an original plot, based on a solid concept. Because of this it could have been really good, offering the audience a mirror in which to view themselves and what society has become. Whilst it did become a bit of a thinker and made me wonder what extent we go to, to have the best of everything it ultimately failed to truly strike at the heart of the topic and left me feeling like there were gaps that should have been filled throughout the film.

Overall; a watchable film but not entirely enjoyable.

After I saw a preview at a local theater for this movie, I got interested because of David Duchovny. I really liked his acting in Californication and was interested how he would act in a standard comedy/drama film, or so it would seem from the preview I saw. Because this movie is much more then a standard comedy/drama film. It deals with much more moral questions about life. I won't give much away, because you really have to go into this film not knowing anything, as I did. The acting was just good, with only Duchovny excelling. Once you understand what's going on in the movie, the script is a bit predictable, but not so much as that it would ruin the movie for you. Also, I don't understand why this movie isn't much bigger. It's made hardly any money and no one's heard about it, yet it's a film that stands out and should get more attention.

I went into this movie because I'm a fan of Duchovny and was expecting a mediocre film, but it turned out to be so much more.

Go see this film, you won't be disappointed.

i watched this movie purely because i like David Duchovny as an actor and because i think Demi Moore is the most attractive woman i've ever seen. this movie was kind of weird when it first started out but you quickly catch on that their life is way too perfect to be real. it was actually better than i thought it was going to be with a real felt message that there is more to life than material things. I'm a marketing student and the real scary part of the movie is when i realized that this could actually happen, in fact it does already in a way with celebrities and famous athletes getting paid to wear and use certain products just to make others want to go buy them. overall this movie was a 7 with an ending that will make you smile.

A seemingly perfect family moves into a new neighbourhood but not all is as it seems. Stars David Duchovny and Demi Moore.

Duchovny is charismatic and likeable but the film is pretty mediocre. The movie feels like it should be a comedy but it's actually a drama.

The Joneses move into an upper-class suburb with the newest gadgets and the best style. Kate (Demi Moore) and Steve (David Duchovny) seem like a perfect couple but they don't have any chemistry in private. Mick (Ben Hollingsworth) is hiding his homosexuality. Jenn (Amber Heard) is slutty and tries to sleep with Steve. They are actually professional salespeople promoting their products. KC (Lauren Hutton) is their boss. Their neighbors Larry (Gary Cole) and Summer Symonds (Glenne Headly) start racking up debts to keep up with the Joneses.

This is an intriguing concept but there is a decreasing return. The idea gets repetitive. The family members' personal drama is more compelling. Mick's relationship with Naomi could be interesting but his gay character can't have the easier romantic drama. It doesn't get the comedy but some of the drama works.

Imagine a perfect family – from the match made in heaven parents to their equally beautiful offspring. They live the finest lifestyle of a mansion-esquire home, drive sleek cars and always draped and accessorized with the latest in fashion and technology. Imagine all that and the fact that they could all appear real and yet not be. The movie also introduces us to the concept of major stealth marketing which infiltrates our daily lives. This is the premise of The Joneses.

David Duchovny plays Steve Jones, who is married to Kathy Jones played by Demi Moore. Their teenage children, Jenn and Mick are played by Amber Heard and Ben Hollingsworth respectively. The Joneses move into a nice pristine neighbourhood and stirs the community immediately fitting in with the crowd and getting everyone to like them. At the same time, we discover that they are not an actual family and they have been hired by a company that employs stealth marketing. Each of the Joneses is an employee who has sales targets to meet and a lot of people to influence. And boy, do they tempt everyone else.

It is a surprise that for movie like The Joneses to not get much attention despite its interesting premise. It has gotten a limited release in the States and has only travelled to a film fest or two. Even in Singapore the movie has been pushed back and it would be no surprise if it sees a limited release here. To think the movie was made in 2009! This is a pity as the movie actually scores some points.

The product placements in the movie are bound to cause audiences to chuckle and how the 'consumers' actually fall victim to the Joneses' slick work. Of course, as much as the movie starts off seemingly innocently like a comedy, the movie allows much room for drama especially when David Duchovny's character starts to fall for his 'fake' wife and actually starts to long for an actual family life and wanting to do familial things with the rest of the children. And naturally, his character starts to question morality and whether he is doing the right thing. Things happen to the characters and the movie gets to the core of these characters, allowing the audience to discover if there is really any humanity left underneath their facades.

Pity though that the climax of the film feels somewhat unreal and contrived and this leads to the resolution being somewhat expected. If the decision made in the climax was further fleshed out and to allow the story to be less predictable for audiences, it would be a big winner. Let us hope that more people will see this nonetheless

Before I saw this film, I really didn't know what to expect, but then as I started watching, it really delivered. David Duchovny and Demi Moore are fantastic as Kate and Steve Jones, the seemingly perfect couple in the ridiculously perfect neighborhood. I especially liked the way in which the director, Derrick Borte, conveyed a feeling to the audience that something just isn't quite right with this family. This movie really makes you think about what you buy and why exactly you buy it. It was highly entertaining and also had an important and rather satirical message about American consumerism and the art of "keeping up with the Joneses."

Derrick Borte's 'The Joneses' is a fair entertainer, that works due to it's novelty. The plot, of a fake-family, catches your attention. How fortunate, the idea is justified by becoming a decent effort.

About a fake family commissioned by a marketing company as a way to introduce new luxury-level products to neighborhoods around the world, using undercover marketing techniques. As told, the idea is truly fresh. Also what works on it's advantage is the running time, it's perfectly maintained - 95 minutes.

Derrick Borte's Screenplay and Direction, both are nice. Yaron Orbach's Cinematography is just right. The Editing isn't that slick, though.

In the acting front, Demi Moore is superb. In fact, she's in true form after a long gap. David Duchovny is lovable. The actor plays his part with great restrain. Amber Heard is not only a beauty, but also a talented performer. Ben Hollingsworth is okay. Chris Williams is competent.

On the whole, 'The Joneses' is, at best, an above-average fare.

I watched this movie on the note from a friend, who kept insisting that I just had to watch it, because it was such a cool movie. So I caved in and sat down to watch the movie, without having any clue what it was all about.

Now, I must say that I think it was a bold topic to make a movie about, but it actually worked out quite well. I am not much fan of movies that are raising debate about social issues, but this movie actually turned out to be interesting and alright.

The cast in the movie was phenomenal. David Duchovny, playing Steve Jones, and Demi Moore, playing Kate Jones, were really great opposite one another, and they had really good screen chemistry. Amber Heard, playing Jenn Jones, and Ben Hollingsworth in the role of Mich Jones, also put on good performances. But I think Gary Cole, in the role of Larry Symonds, was actually one of the better guys in the movie, he played his role quite well.

The story told in "The Joneses" about our consumerist society was somewhat interesting, and it manages to keep you riveted to the chair, wanting to see what happens next in the movie. But was it really one that was necessary being told? I found the movie to be adequate entertainment, but it didn't really raise any issues about consumerism after having seen it. Maybe because I just take a movie for what it is, a movie - a means of entertainment.

I noticed the movie was labeled as a comedy, which I would disagree with. Drama, yes, but comedy, no. At least not in the sense that it will make you laughing and rolling on the floor. Sure there were moments that were funny and somewhat outrageous, but as a comedy it just didn't do the trick for me.

"The Joneses", for me, is the type of movie that you watch it once, then bag it and tag it, never to see it again. To me, the story didn't have enough value for a second viewing.

"The Joneses" asks, can you keep up with the Joneses (David Duchovny and Demi Moore)? And the answer is yes. The plot has enough original twists and turns to keep it interesting, but not so many that you can still notice the few levels of nuance and intelligence that they added.

A very original take on the "keeping up with the Joneses" idea - everybody wants what the Joneses have. It may sound like any other film where we watch rich people live their selfish lives, but they quickly turn that on its head. It's much more clever and interesting. The creative premise can seem a bit far-fetched but it was immediately brought back down to Earth with the realism of the characters. I was completely intrigued by these characters, and particularly impressed with the emotion that was shining from beneath Duchovny's handsome surface.

I had no idea what to expect from "The Joneses". And, well, that's exactly what I got - something that I never could have expected. And it was great. This film is original and intelligent, especially with some of their perceptions of society. It can be a bit cynical at times but that just adds some dark humour which all the best films have. I highly recommend "The Joneses", especially for people who like a little bit of thought and originality in films.

I thought the first half of The Joneses was pretty cool. I liked the cast (Duchovny, Moore, Cole have by far the biggest roles in the movie, so don't expect a lot of Ben Hollingsworth or Amber Heard) and the idea of a fake family (or cell, as they're called here) being planted into relatively affluent neighborhood to covertly advertise products through their lifestyle was interesting. Especially in today's world, where we're constantly being advertised to in nearly every facet of our lives (including this movie).

Unfortunately, when the lives of The Jones and the people around them who desperately crave their seemingly ideal existence start to unravel, so does the movie. Derrick Borte's script throws every cliché obstacle up on screen that you can think of in an attempt to add emotional drama and a connection between the characters and the audience, and it just didn't work, for me. I didn't feel sympathy for the people I was expected to feel sympathy for, and it all ended up feeling so predictable that it really dragged down the good things the movie did in the initial half. 

I still had an overall positive experience with The Joneses, but I wish this could have been an entire good movie, instead of half of one.