Adulting is tough. Being a hard-working mom with little time to chill with your besties is even tougher. Which of us couldn’t use a relaxing getaway? Spa Weekend, the latest female ensemble comedy from Bad Moms duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, isn’t breaking the mold with this over-the-top treat, which boasts an impeccable cast of leading ladies in Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, Michelle Buteau, and Isla Fisher.
Mann stars as overworked, powerhouse attorney Jane, who is so busy she never thinks about her own needs. Faris is beleaguered PA Sophie, bullied at work by her man-child of a boss; while the hilarious Buteau is Coco, a bitter and angry divorcee who would rather fight with her ex-husband Roger (Dominic Ona-Ariki) and make fun of his new, older girlfriend. Friends since childhood, the trio decide they need some tie away from it all to celebrate Jane’s birthday.
Put-upon PA Sophie (Faris), overworked attorney Jane (Mann) and embittered divorcee Coco (Buteau) are childhood besties who, as fraught adults, could use some long-overdue downtime, so it’s off to a luxurious spa in Palm Beach to kick back, enjoy the view of the hot Aussie yoga instructor, Kai (Adam Demos), and have some fun. They didn’t count on one thing; the arrival of excluded chaos-bringer Mel, played by an unhinged Isla Fisher, who was invited on the down low by a regretful Sophie.
Moore and Lucas, writers of The Hangover and creators of the Bad Moms franchise, don’t stray far from the chaotic formula with Spa Weekend. That’s partially a problem, as the duo tends to write their movies with the same type of gags whether they are done by men or women. But female friendships are very different from the kind that guys have, and it would’ve been nice to see that reflected. At the same time, it’s tough to complain when the catastrophic Mel is shouting “hoes before bros!!” embarrassingly at her besties, or when the group is getting roughed up by aggressive goats at yoga class.
There will be squabbles among the group, secrets revealed, and lots of talk about love and sex. Jane, a hottie with a “stripper body” as Mel calls her, thinks her time for love has passed, but finds an unexpected connection beyond physical with Kai. And while Kai is clearly there just to be eye candy, Demos is such a charmer that the character becomes something more than that. It’s easy to see why he would dig Jane, and why she would dig him.
The best arc of all belongs to Buteau’s Coco, however, and perhaps I feel this way partially due to personal experience, but it rang true with me. Coco is perpetually angry since the divorce, and while most comedies would have pegged Kai as the bad guy, that’s not true here. He’s a genuinely good guy, but understands that love wasn’t enough to save their marriage. Coco needs help, and he wants her to get it, not for them to be reunited but so that she can be happy. Coco, who had a tough childhood, is reluctant to accept that kind of help. She’s pissed at Roger, but is also still attracted to him, so when he shows up at the spa due to one of Mel’s crazy schemes, the sexual sparks light up again. This only makes their relationship more complicated, as things always are with divorced couples.
Buteau and Fisher are Spa Weekend‘s greatest standouts. Fisher gets the flashy, unpredictable role similar to Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover. While her humor is more of a frenzy, Buteau’s Coco cuts like a knife with her sharp, blunt observations. Ultimately, all four women are great together, especially the more Fisher is allowed to go off the cuff.
That said, Spa Weekend could’ve used a bit more edge. Lacking the raunch and lowbrow gags of Bad Moms, it comes across as too tame to appeal to both men and women on a large scale. While it’s fun to see these friends being chased by spa security in golf carts, or throwing a stripper party that goes off the rails, it’s all just mildly amusing. In truth, the best part of this Spa Weekend is seeing Mann, Faris, Buteau, and Fisher connecting like true friends do. It truly feels like they are just hanging out and enjoying one another’s company, cracking jokes and learning life’s simple truths.
Female comedies are a rarity these days. For every successful Bad Moms or Girls Trip movie, there are years with nothing at all. It’s a shame because they tend to do extremely well, probably because they come around so infrequently. Spa Weekend is light and entertaining, the kind of easygoing time that you can have with your friends over brunch, sipping mimosas.
Spa Weekend opens August 21st from Black Bear.
