According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, there are three types of meat that can be described collectively. For ten points, what is the term? If you know the answer to that, you may well be a regular egghead who frequents a quiz night on a regular basis. If so, then this one’s for you.

There’s nothing that couple Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) enjoy more than inviting a few friends around after work, to relax and have fun playing games on a game night. Actually, there is one thing that the pair would enjoy more and that’s winning.

For them, the thrill of winning is everything, but they’re happy to share their winning ways with some close friends. Except their neighbour Gary (Jesse Plemons) that is; he used to be part of the gang, but after his girlfriend broke up with him, and as they enjoyed her company more than his, they’ve been avoiding him like the plague.

One evening, after a long absence, Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) joins the party. Brooks is considered not only more successful than Max, but also better looking, so it’s no surprise that Max is less than thrilled by his arrival.

But when Brooks decides to take game night up a notch, by offering his new sports car as the prize, Max’s interest is well and truly piqued. The only clause he insists upon is that it takes place at his far superior new pad, which Max agrees to.

Max and his friends can tell that his brother has pulled out all the stops, when he has hired a murder mystery party for them to partake in, with actors paid to take part for added realism. It’s not long after the game has begun however, that they slowly realise that they may well be involved in an entirely different type of game, of a more deadly nature.

There’s a general rule of thumb where Jason Bateman films are concerned and that is this: he’s always worth a watch. That’s not to say he hasn’t appeared in some serious turd-filled titles, but when he has, he’s usually been the best thing about them.

Once again that rule of thumb rings true here, but he faces stiff competition from McAdams, who takes her comedic performance to another level. This makes this adorable onscreen pairing completely watchable.

And considering the directing duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have only worked on one other project previous – the decidedly average 2015 Griswold family reboot Vacation - they’ve struck a far richer vein of laughs here.

They’re helped by a sharp witty script that when it throws the dice, comes up with a win more often than not. To get the most out of it though you have look past the unbelievable plot, that occasionally takes itself far too seriously than it has any right to.

Still, Bateman and McAdams (who are ably supported by a fine supporting cast including our own national treasure-in-waiting Sharon Horgan) hold all the aces, phoney cash, cheeses etc by manoeuvring through all this silliness with some winning performances.

So if you fancy a fun night in, it’s game on.