Game Night stars Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as Max and Annie, whose weekly couples game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s charismatic brother Brooks arranges a murder mystery party, complete with fake thugs and faux federal agents.
But as the six uber-competitive gamers set out to solve the case and win, they begin to discover that neither this “game” nor Brooks are what they seem to be. Over the course of one chaotic night, the friends find themselves increasingly in over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn. With no rules, no points, and no idea who all the players are, this could turn out to be the most fun they’ve ever had…or, it’s game over.
Joining Bateman and McAdams in the cast are Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, and Kyle Chandler. We caught with stars Sharon Horgan & Billy Magnussen for a funny chat.
The Knockturnal: Thank you. Well, you guys clearly get along really well. Talk about building up that chemistry to where you guys are almost a couple at the end.
Sharon Horgan: How did we build up the chemistry? We played a lot of pool and hung out. Had a few beers. Pool and drunk and went to Shaky Knees. Just spent a lot of time just lying back chatting.
The Knockturnal: You [Billy] have been flexing your comedy chops lately this year. Talk about doing more comedy versus your more serious roles you’ve previously done.
Billy Magnussen: I don’t know. I don’t think … I’m just not getting hired in serious roles. I don’t know. I can’t choose my career. I can choose what I audition for, but I can’t choose the jobs that I get hired for. So it just happens to gravitate this way a little bit. I don’t know if there a trick, or a rule, or what not. And I’m not looking for a specific path.
The Knockturnal: What did you guys learn about each other during this process of doing Game Night?
Magnussen: I would say Sharon is just the hardest working individual I met. Just generous people, I would say.
Horgan: You’re super generous.
The Knockturnal: The movie is Game Night. What were some of your favorite games growing up?
Sharon Horgan: Well, I loved a game called “Buckaroo,” but no one knows that game. It was like a kind of plastic mule, and you had to load him up with stuff. And then it’s like, “You need a very steady hand.” And if you’d put on too much stuff, you’d buckaroo and they’d all collapse. It doesn’t sound great. Does it?
Billy Magnussen: Tag was a solid game, growing up. “Tag, you’re it!” It’s a great game.