Netflix have become notorious for their original movies that always swap around cast members and dull action plotlines. In 2021 it was Red Notice, in 2023 it was Heart of Stone, and now in 2025 we get Back In Action. The title is in some ways ironic, as it’s about two retired CIA operatives being called back into the field to protect their children, but it also shows Cameron Diaz back in action after a ten-year hiatus from acting. The double meaning in the title is by far the cleverest thing about this film, and I doubt the double meaning was even intentional.
Back In Action has all the hallmarks. Comedy dialogue that’s only mildly funny, child characters that are either bland or insufferable, boomer jokes about the younger generations and all their new technology, and serviceable action scenes that aren’t bad but never get the blood pumping.
yet another painfully mediocre Netflix romp that will quickly be forgotten
The cast list for the film also reads like a random assortment of recognisable faces. Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz are both great actors who have been in fantastic projects over the years, but both have little on-screen chemistry between each other. Andrew Scott looks confused as to why he’s here and trapped speaking with a weak English accent, and Glenn Close shows up as well, presumably appearing in loads of poor Netflix originals to pay off her debts. I’ll give her this - this is at least better than last year’s The Deliverance which was offensively bad.
I’m fine with certain films being background noise. You know the ones, films you can stick on while completing household chores or finishing up essays (we’ve all been there). Typically, the movies I stick on in the background are better than this though. They don’t feel like they’re taking a perfect 90-minute action movie story, stretching it out to nearly 2 hours and sanding off all the interesting edges.
I’m happy that Cameron Diaz is back acting, and I’m happy that Jamie Foxx is okay after some recent health scares, but if I want to watch them I’ll watch There’s Something About Mary, Django Unchained or Being John Malkovich: something that actually gives them good stuff to work with, rather than yet another painfully mediocre Netflix romp that will quickly be forgotten.