Comedians going dark can sometimes lead to a real cinematic discovery. They don’t even need to necessarily go dark, but to show another side of themselves is often a joy to witness. Look no further than Adam Sandler’s revelatory turn last year in Uncut Gems, continuing what he’s been able to show in work like Punch Drunk Love. Now, Sandler’s pal Kevin James takes a crack at it in the thriller Becky, a gory gender swapped take on material covered far lighter in Home Alone. James is certainly chillingly evil here, but the mean streak, especially in relation to dogs, found here ends up soiling the picture. The movie is a thriller, beginning with some father/daughter drama. Becky (Lulu Wilson) is headed to her family’s lake house with her father Jeff (Joel McHale) and their two dogs, sometime after her mother/his wife has passed away. They have a tense relationship, rooted in Becky’s fear that Jeff is about to sell the house. Well, he’s opted not to, but he’s also invited his girlfriend Kayla (Amanda Brugel) and her son Ty (Isaiah Rockcliffe) for the weekend. Moreover, Jeff and Kayla reveal to Becky that they’re planning to get married. She storms off with one of the dogs, becoming separated when all hell breaks loose. You see, Dominick (James), a neo-nazi, has broken out of prison and needs something from the house. Along with Apex (Robert Maillet) and his gang, he holds the family hostage, leaving Becky to potentially save the day. Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion direct a screenplay by Nick Morris, Lane Skye, and Ruckus Skye. Greta Zozula handles the cinematography, while the score is from Nima Fakhrara. Supporting players include Ryan McDonald, James McDougall, and more. Kevin James undoubtedly showcases an ability to go to some dark places with this villainous role. Unfortunately, the flick is paper thin and mean-spirited, torpedoing whatever he can bring to the table. Along with James, young Lulu Wilson does overcome some of the script pitfalls. Wilson is a decent anchor, protagonist wise. Neither is given enough to do. One is a bile spewing villain, made interesting by the actor playing him, while the other is a sullen teenage girl, driven to heroism in a desperate situation. They play the parts well, but the parts don’t really have a ton of layers to them. Becky is the sort of film that easily could have […]