Prime Video’s Role Play takes a familiar “couple in crisis” idea, ties it to an action-comedy pace, and accelerates it into a single night: In the suburbs of New Jersey, Emma’s “normal” life is upended when it’s revealed she’s actually a contract killer, turning the marriage into an escape plan overnight. The film pursues not romantic gestures but whether a relationship can survive the moment the truth emerges.
Plot: What Starts as a Game Collides with Real Life
Emma and Dave plan a role-playing night at a hotel to break the routine of marriage. Right during this “game,” Emma’s secret life leaks out; for Dave, the night’s shock is “not knowing his wife,” while for Emma it’s “trying to save both lives at once.” The film turns this collision into both comedy and a small-scale action chase.
Kaley Cuoco & David Oyelowo: Star Charisma Present, Chemistry Debated
The leads are the film’s real engine: Kaley Cuoco (Emma) and David Oyelowo (Dave). On the criticism side, the film is said to struggle in building the emotional weight of the two actors’ relationship because it can’t quite decide on its tone—“family drama or action-comedy?”
What Are We Watching: A “Mid-Budget Genre Cocktail” of the Streaming Era
Role Play sits exactly on this shelf: easy to start, around 100 minutes, a genre-mixing streaming movie. On one hand, domestic tension (trust–lies–intimacy); on the other, “assassin world” conflict. On JustWatch, the runtime is listed as 1 hour 41 minutes (101 min), and the film is available on Prime Video.
Director and Screenplay: Familiar Formula, Target Entertainment
Director Thomas Vincent; screenplay by Andrew Baldwin and Seth W. Owen. The structure leans on a hybrid narrative that “takes an idea and quickly spins it around” rather than being grand “twist cinema.”
Where the Film Works Best: When the “Secret” Truly Becomes the Enemy
The more interesting side of Role Play lies not in the assassin organization or escape routes but in how the secret gnaws at the relationship. The film doesn’t turn this into a deep marriage story; but by embedding the theme of “trust” into the action, it creates a watchable tension line.
What to Expect?
If you set expectations right: a fast, light, genre-blend evening movie.
If you expect “Mr. & Mrs. Smith-level big set-pieces”: the film stays smaller in scale.
At its best: for those wanting to have fun without overthinking.
Where to Watch?
Available on Prime Video (US).
