The Joneses (2010) R

This is just another family drama...right? Wrong. This very original film focuses on, well, the Jones family. There's Steve (David Duchovny), the father; Kate (Demi Moore), the mother; Jenn (Amber Heard), the daughter; and Mick (Ben Hollingsworth), the son. They're the all-American dream family, or so people think. The Joneses have retired, so they move to beautiful Arizona. They're very, very wealthy. But how exactly?

They meet their new next door neighbors Larry (Gary Cole) and Summer (Glenne Headley) Symonds. The Symonds are the jealous type. Their marriage has gone south. The Joneses have everything. They have the largest, nicest house. The fastest, most expensive vehicles. The best new technologies. The brand new fashion statements. And so on, and so fourth. Everyone just wants to keep up with the Joneses.

The kids make friends fast at their new school. Mom and Dad have other couples eating out of the palm of their hands. Where is this all going? The first 20 minutes are very confusing, as we all try to figure out just what is going on. We find out Steve and Kate sleep in separate rooms, and Jenn tries to sleep with her father. What kind of sick family is this? Or are they just acting like a family? Bingo.

One morning a woman named KC (Lauren Hutton) stops by the house. It turns out that the Joneses are a fake family placed into a certain area to encourage others to buy things they own. They get paid to show off their new gadgets, clothes, cars, golf clubs, frozen foods, and beverages to their new friends and neighbors. They have performance charts and must fill a quota. The dream job? Quite possibly.

Steve is the new guy in the family. Kate, Jenn and Mick have been together for awhile now. Steve is inexperienced and isn't quite getting the job done. He is preoccupied with his golf game, and is trying to court Kate. She won't have any of that, so she rips into Steve to start getting his numbers up, or he is gone.

Steve begins to focus and his numbers go through the roof. Jenn is supposed to find a boyfriend, but she's into older men. Mick is supposed to have a girlfriend, but he's a closeted homosexual. Steve and Kate begin to fall for each other. Jenn gets her heart broken and Mick comes out. Things are getting messy and the performance charts are showing it.

Larry Symonds begins spending money he doesn't have and is about to lose his house. Larry ties himself to his riding lawn mower, and drives into his pool and drowns. Steve is torn to shreds over it and wants to spill the truth to everyone and quit. The Joneses are left with a choice, will they choose wisely?

I didn't find this film provocative enough, considering the subject matter. There wasn't quite enough lying, cheating, fighting, or bloodshed. The performances are all pretty good, especially Duchovny (The TV Set, The X Files), Moore (Mr. Brooks, Bobby), and Cole (Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Office Space). It's just great to see Duchovny on the big screen again. The gorgeous rising star Amber Heard (Pineapple Express, The Informers) is always a treat. First time writer/director Derrick Borte doesn't pack enough punches, but this film is smart and funny enough to be recommended. This film is definitely worth a rent.
C+