The Joneses (A+)

Derrick Borte's writing/directorial debut is amazing, balancing funny, thought-provoking, and emotional relevance excellently. If that is not enough, the cast puts up an incredible effort, making this one of, if not the, best films of the year.
To explain the basic plot of the movie is a tiny spoiler (I have to reveal a secret that keeps audiences hooked for the first ten minutes). For those who want to know more about the film, though, I am continuing. A wealthy suburban community is excited and envious of the charismatic new family the Joneses. They seem to be perfect. The father and mother are passionately kissing and giving each other new gifts. The daughter is the talk of the school, and the son quickly becomes the guy everybody likes. They are athletic, smart, and successful. What is more, they are endlessly giving people friendly little tips that seem to work everywhere. Steve Jones says that he isn't a natural at golf--he just has an affordable club that makes everyone great. Steve's wife Kate Jones isn't the excellent cook everyone thinks she is--she just found out about these great frozen foods. Jenn Jones's luscious lips are really only highlighted because she has this great lipstick. Her brother Mick Jones is only the best skateboarder in school because he has an awesome new board everyone should try. The Joneses are truly the family everyone wants to--and probably can--be.
Problem is they aren't really the Joneses. They are unrelated adults who's job is to sell products by pretending to be innocent civilians benefiting from them. Don't get mad, though: it's just business.
The film has many sub-plot-lines that nicely tie together, but the story centers around the relationship between Steve and Kate. Steve is new to the job, but Kate thinks he has the charismatic charm to carry them to success. Steve is struggling at his new career (just like he did as a pro-golfer), but wants to start a genuine relationship--with Kate. True, she is his boss: but if they are going to pretend to be husband and wife they might as well act like it.
The Joneses family isn't meant to be taken literally (at least not yet, that is). However it symbolizes so much more. Yes, what drives consumerism--but that is to overused a subject to base a whole movie on (sorry, Mr. Romero). First, the family (and likewise the film) demonstrates how advertising is affecting everyday lives: selling us things without OUR best interests in mind. It doesn't matter what a product, such as say teen-alcohol, does. If it sells, that's all that matters. Don't be mad: It's just business.
A dark comedy on these issues would be a good movie, but writer/director Borte wants to do something more than that. After humoring us for a while, the movie drills strait down to another central issue: Why everyone, including Steve and Kate, want to be the Joneses. It's not just about the money: There is a strong appeal to playing a part if that part gives you admiration. The story starts poking around and then comes up with a resolution symbolic of what makes people tick--and how they can get their moral clock to tick right.
The film never leaves it's dark roots. After all, how can they? Even if Steve learns his lesson he did so at the cost of others. Or did he even hurt them after all? All of these questions get an answer though, and make the tale more than just satire--the movie is a moving drama as well.
The characters are so interesting audiences would always be impressed, but the actors do a great job anyway. Demi Moore (The Scarlett Letter, Bobby) is perfect as Kate, but David Duchovny (The X-Files) is amazing as Steve (he plays him with just the amount of charisma and conflicted angst the role deserves). Amber Heard (Never Back Down) plays Jenn with a riveting performance of someone with a well-developed enticing persona yet a raging sex-addicted lust and TV's Ben Hollingsworth plays Mick with an atmosphere of reluctant coolness. In another great show of acting, Gary Coleman (a supporting actor in The Brady Bunch and Pineapple express) breaks our hearts as the kindly man who falls for Steve's con hook, line, and sinker.
An absolute must-see, The Joneses is powerful in several different themes as well as a perfect demonstration for how a movie can be a dark comedy and still tell a touching story.