Chuck’s betrayal, Balthazar Gor’s key, sequel speculations and more

Netflix’s Back in Action shows Cameron Diaz’s return to the screens after almost 11 years. The Charlie’s Angels star, whose last feature film was a role in 2014’s Annie, returns with her then co-star, Jamie Foxx. This time, the duo plays retired spies who must return to their risky lives since their secret identities get exposed after a public incident.

Diaz plays Emily, while Foxx plays Matt. The rest of this action thriller’s cast includes Kyle Chandler, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, and Jamie Demetriou. McKenna Roberts and Rylan Jackson play Emily and Matt’s kids, Alice and Leo.

Seth Gordon helms this project. He has previously directed comedies like Horrible Bosses (2011), Identity Thief (2013), and Baywatch (2017). Back in Action shows him returning with a similar style of humor. Neighbors fame Brendan O’Brien has co-written the new film with him.

Toward the end of Back in Action, Emily and Matt learn about Chuck’s betrayal but defeat him to acquire Balthazar Gor’s key. They return to their lives in the US to be, potentially, pulled back into their past profession. Find the cliffhanger ending explained below.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Back in Action. Reader discretion is advised.

What happens in Netflix’s Back in Action?

(Video via YouTube/Netflix)

Netflix’s Back in Action follows Emily (Cameron Diaz) and Matt (Jamie Foxx), a married couple living in the suburban US with their kids – Alice (McKenna Roberts) and Leo (Rylan Jackson). Formerly CIA spies, the couple hides their past until a viral incident brings them in front of their old associate, Chuck (Kyle Chandler).

Chuck warns them of a potential danger and, within moments, gets shot in the head. So, worried, Emily and Matt uproot their lives and travel to England to find a special key Matt had kept at Emily’s mother, Ginny’s (Glenn Close) house. While there, their other CIA colleague, Baron (Andrew Scott), tries to locate them because he thinks Matt is going to use that powerful Balthazar Gor’s key.

Why does Chuck seek revenge against Emily & Matt?

In England, Emily and Matt receive another surprise as Chuck locates them, hoping for revenge. About 15 years ago, Emily and Matt survived a plane crash and decided to lead “normal” lives without informing the CIA that they were alive. Their decision cost Chuck his job, his pension, and other things he held dear.

After learning they are alive, Chuck reappears in their lives to get back what he has lost. He seeks Balthazar Gor’s key to earn a fortune through an auction while getting his sweet revenge. The key can do many things. For starters, it can help someone gain charge over a city’s electricity and control the position of a river’s barrier. The successful bidder hopes to use the key for a job in Paris.

What happens to Emily and Matt in the end?

At the end of Back in Action, Emily and Matt manage to beat Chuck. As it happens, Ginny’s partner, Nigel (Jamie Demetriou), acquires Balthazar Gor’s key from Chuck’s assistant. By then, the married couple patches things up with Baron since he realizes Matt’s true motives. So, after this mission, the couple happily returns to their lives.

Shortly before their departure to England, Emily and Matt had started using their spy skills to monitor Alice and Leo’s daily activities. After their return, they allow the kids more space, which strengthens their mutual bond. However, just when they thought they were out of the spy world, they get pulled back in!

Baron suddenly returns to their lives to reveal something shocking. They couldn’t find Chuck’s body after Emily and Matt beat him. It means Chuck might be alive. So, Baron wants the former spies to return to their jobs with another spy – Emily’s father.

The ending does not reveal who Emily’s father is or confirm that she and Matt will once again be spies and help Baron find Chuck. So, the open ending leads viewers to look forward to a second chapter of this movie, even though it hasn’t been officially announced yet.

Why did you not like this content?

Cancel
Submit

Was this article helpful?