The Joneses is an clever oxymoron of a film.  It mocks and criticizes the social notion of “keeping up with the Joneses,” yet uses the very consumeristic culture to make its point.  The people here, the sets, the costumes, the glitz and glam, are as beautiful as Oceans 11 or a Bond film.  Yet this isn’t a ”blow-’em-up, then buy Armani” kind of film...

It all boils down to a brilliant concept.  The Joneses, in this world, are a fictitious family of salespeople who enter a neighborhood as actors and generate interest in the products they sell by making their images desirable to neighbors.  Fantastic!  Derrick Borte, who also penned the screen adaptation, makes his directing debut here - and delivers a solid film that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. 

Granted, the third act watches like the season finale of a soap opera, but that’s sort of the point, isn’t it?  And unfortunately, the film ruins itself - and its own attempts at theme - in the last 15 seconds.  So do yourself a favor and walk out after Duchovny says “I loved that car.”  Staying beyond that leaves a bit of Hollywood sour that just might destroy your experience of a thought-provoking indie film.