Forget about death and taxes. The one undeniable truth of life is that when you reach middle age, teenagers will invariably roll their eyes at you and consider you utterly uncool. Even celebrities and rock stars are not exempt, frequently sharing stories about how their children remain comically unimpressed by their celebrity status. After all, parents — the enforcers of curfews and screen time restrictions — are inherently “lame.” However, what these teens fail to realize (to borrow a line from [a Will Smith classic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW3PFC86UNI)) is that we *once were* cool — and perhaps, just perhaps, we can regain that coolness. That’s the dream at the core of *[Back in Action](https://mashable.com/video/back-in-action-trailer-jamie-foxx-cameron-diaz)*, an energetic action-comedy featuring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.
This [Netflix original](https://mashable.com/article/best-movies-netflix-2024) begins with Diaz and Foxx portraying a duo of charming spies tasked with transporting a digital key. However, a shocking betrayal compels them to simulate their deaths and go into hiding — not just to save themselves but to safeguard their unborn child, as Emily (Diaz) finds out she’s expecting. Flash forward 15 years, and the couple has exchanged their thrilling spy careers for peaceful suburban life. They now reside in a lovely home with their two teenage children, who are adept at sneaking out using fake IDs and maneuvering through the newest technology. But when a menacing threat targets their daughter, Emily is propelled back into action, jeopardizing their anonymity and forcing the family to flee.
If this storyline sounds familiar, recall the moment in *Spy Kids* when Juni and Carmen uncover their parents’ secret lives — but expanded into a full-length film where the children play supporting roles. Fundamentally, *Back in Action* focuses on two parents reclaiming their coolness and rediscovering their identities beyond being “mom” and “dad” — all while earning their children’s respect along the way.
### *Back in Action* is a nostalgic tribute to the ’90s.
The initial act of *Back in Action* resembles a ’90s [romantic comedy](https://mashable.com/article/best-romantic-comedies-netflix) with a spy twist — envision *Sleepless in Skyfall*, if you will. Diaz and Foxx’s chemistry is vibrant and playful, evoking the golden era of rom-coms, where clever banter and nostalgic soundtracks prevailed. For example: Dean Martin’s “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” provides the lively backdrop for a hand-to-hand combat scene involving the duo and a battalion of mercenaries.
As Gen X icons, Diaz and Foxx present a soundtrack that strikes all the right nostalgic chords. Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It” make striking appearances, with the latter being featured in a comical family road trip singalong. While the parents passionately sing along, their kids gaze on in horrified disbelief. And indeed, Diaz’s dance movements are just as charmingly quirky and endearing as they were in *The Sweetest Thing*.
Diaz’s return to the screen feels like a triumphant comeback. After a ten-year break, she seamlessly slips back into the type of role she has always excelled in. From her breakout performance in 1994’s *The Mask* to her comedic roles in *My Best Friend’s Wedding* and *Charlie’s Angels*, Diaz has consistently been a compelling presence with superb comedic timing. *Back in Action* highlights her talent for physical comedy, as she delivers clever one-liners, performs exhilarating stunts, and effortlessly toggles between charm and intensity. Foxx, in turn, serves as the ideal partner, mirroring her energy and charisma as they navigate the film’s mix of humor and high-stakes espionage.
### *Back in Action* embodies a Gen X dream of spy adventures and family ties.
As Emily and Matt confront relentless adversaries — including Emily’s pretentious British ex (portrayed by [Andrew Scott](https://mashable.com/video/andrew-scott-ripley-netflix)) — and form tenuous alliances with characters like Emily’s snobby mother (Glenn Close) and her oblivious boyfriend (Jamie Demetriou), their children are compelled to view their parents in a completely new way. For their daughter Alice (McKenna Roberts), this entails reassessing her strained relationship with her mother. Confronted with her mother’s past challenges, Alice begins to acknowledge their shared resilience, bridging the generational divide between them.
At its essence, *Back in Action* is a narrative about reconnecting.