Kaley Cuoco may be our newest caper girl Friday, but even her flame of charisma tapers off early in “Role Play,” directed by Thomas Vincent. Calling on the same knack for high jinks that she perfected on the Max series “The Flight Attendant,” the onetime sitcom actress plays Emma, a suburban mom with a secret: she is actually an internationally-wanted assassin.
A minivan wife leading a double life as a professional killer is an agreeable enough premise for a broad action comedy, but the movie’s biggest idea lies not in content, but structure. As the hit woman and her clueless but loyal husband, Dave (David Oyelowo), get sucked into an improbable game of cat and mouse with her former employer, the film takes pride in flashing back to preceding scenes to unveil new details. The point is that Emma is always one step ahead — even of the audience.
These mini-twists might have felt exciting had the film waited longer before each reveal; as it stands, the stretches between scene and flashback are shorter than commercial breaks. It is perhaps needless to add that the story often stretches credulity. What does Emma’s ex-boss have against her? Why aren’t the F.B.I. all over Emma’s recent sloppy murder? One is quick to forgive faulty plot machinations when an action movie really revs; “Role Play” merely spins its wheels.
Role Play
Rated R. She’s number one with a bullet. Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Watch on Prime Video.
